Sandy MaloneBibb County, AL – Two Bibb County sheriff’s deputies were shot during the pursuit of a suspected stolen vehicle on Wednesday and one of the heroes is not expected to survive his wounds.
The incident occurred on the evening of June 29 after Bibb County Sheriff’s Deputies Chris Poole and Brad Johnson spotted a suspected stolen vehicle, WVTM reported.
The deputies pursued the vehicle until the driver – later identified as 26-year-old Austin Patrick Hall – opened fire on them along Highway 25 in the Brierfield area, Yellowhammer News reported.
Deputy Johnson was shot in the head and Deputy Poole was also wounded, WTVM reported.
The deputies were transported to University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital for treatment.
The community held a prayer vigil for the wounded deputies on Wednesday night.
BIBB COUNTY PRAYER VIGIL: Dozens came together Wednesday night to pray for the Bibb County police officers and to pray for their families. The prayer vigil started at 8 pm at the Bibb County courthouse, 150 people attended pic.twitter.com/3Ni68cWhtx
— Tim Reid (@reidreporterguy) June 30, 2022
A 16-agency manhunt ensued with local, state, and federal law enforcement officers working together to track down the attempted cop killer.
🚨#BREAKING: Large Manhunt underway after two Bibb County deputies injured in a shooting
⁰📌 #Bibb l #AlabamaRight now A massive manhunt is underway after two deputies were shot during a chase with a stolen car one has been rushed to a Hospital The suspect is still at large. pic.twitter.com/9ID3Tu6mQ9
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) June 29, 2022
The U.S. Marshals Service announced that Hall had been captured on Thursday morning.
Bibb County District Attorney Michael Jackson said Hall was apprehended in the Bulldog Bend area of Bibb County at about 8:50 a.m. on June 30, Yellowhammer News reported.
The man accused of shooting two Bibb County Sheriff’s Deputies, Austin Hall, has been captured. Multiple law enforcement agencies surrounded this house off Bulldog Bend Rd around 7:30am. @WVTM13 pic.twitter.com/nCEMbHAHhK
— Sarah Killian (@SarahWVTM13) June 30, 2022
#BreakingNews U.S. Marshals confirm suspect Austin Hall has been CAPTURED in Bibb County. Hall was wanted for the shooting of two Bibb Co. deputies. One of those officers…Brad Johnson on life support. Stay with @WVTM13 for more details. pic.twitter.com/zHQZHQu4Ob
— Carla Wade (@CarlaWVTM13) June 30, 2022
Jackson said that Hall has an extensive criminal history that dates back to 2012.
Hall also escaped from a Wilcox County work release facility in 2019 while serving a 10-year sentence for a 2018 theft of property conviction, 1819 News reported.
He was indicted in May on 10 charges of second-degree receiving stolen property, reckless endangerment, second-degree assault, illegally carrying a firearm, drug possession, resisting arrest, attempting to elude, and third-degree burglary in Calhoun County, but was out on bond when he opened fire on the deputies.
Austin Patrick Hall, the man wanted in connection to the Wednesday shooting of two deputies with the Bibb County Sheriff's Office has been captured, according to the U.S. Marshal Service. pic.twitter.com/je3P5BHKla
— 🇺🇦🌻True Crime Sisters🌻🇺🇦 (@TrueCrimeSister) June 30, 2022
Jackson told reporters that one of the wounded deputies was “doing fine,” while the other remained on life support in critical condition, NBC News reported.
Deputy Johnson’s father, Steven Johnson, told WTVM that his son’s brain activity is minimal and that “unless a miracle happens,” doctors would take the fallen hero off life support on Thursday afternoon.
The wounded hero is an organ donor, according to his father.
Deputy Johnson was a K9 handler and has been a member of the sheriff’s department for seven years, WTVM reported.
He has two children and is engaged to be married.
Deputy Poole was released from the hospital on Thursday morning to recover at home, WTVM reported.
This is a developing story and we will keep you updated. For all of our updates, follow us on Facebook and go to your news feed preferences under your settings, then select that you want to see more of The Police Tribune’s posts in your news feed. Otherwise, Facebook may not show you updates.
Holly Matkin
