A Lee County deputy was shot in the arm Wednesday while deputies served a warrant at a home in Loachapoka, and the man accused of opening fire was killed when officers shot back. The wounded officer was first stabilized at a local hospital, then life-flighted to UAB in Birmingham for surgery. Sheriff Jay Jones said the deputy is in stable condition. Authorities say the operation stemmed from allegations that a woman had been held and repeatedly assaulted inside the residence, and a 3-year-old child who was also in the home was not hurt.
Warrant service turns violent
According to Sheriff Jones, Lee County deputies and investigators went to a home in the 900 block of Lee Road 188 in the Loachapoka area to serve a warrant for first-degree rape. When deputies made entry, a man inside opened fire and hit one deputy in the arm. Other deputies returned fire, and the man died at the scene. The deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave with pay while the State Bureau of Investigation conducts its review, as reported by the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.
Suspect identified, federal agencies involved
Lee County Coroner Daniel Sexton identified the man killed as 36-year-old Wilder Cobon Gomez. Local officials said Gomez was a Guatemalan national. They told reporters that his body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy and that the sheriff's office is working with Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to determine his status. Those details were reported by WSFA.
Deputy condition and scene details
The injured deputy was taken first to a nearby hospital, then flown to UAB in Birmingham for more specialized treatment. Sheriff Jones said the officer was conscious and expected to recover. He added that a 3-year-old child was in the room when the shooting broke out but was not injured. Jones also praised the swift cooperation among surrounding agencies that responded to the scene. Local television coverage of the response and the deputy's transport was provided by WTVM.
School resource officer's role
Sheriff Jones said the investigation began after an adult woman left the home and reported to a school resource officer at Loachapoka High School that she had been held against her will and sexually assaulted multiple times. Lt. Pamela Revels, president of the National Association of School Resource Officers, told reporters that SROs often serve as trusted contacts in small communities and can be crucial in getting victims to safety. That context was included in reporting by WSFA.
Legal note
The warrant served in the case was for first-degree rape, which is a Class A felony under Alabama law. The State Bureau of Investigation will lead an independent probe of the officer-involved shooting while prosecutors weigh potential charges connected to the alleged sexual assaults. The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported that investigators are coordinating with federal partners as the case moves forward.
What happens next
Sheriff Jones said his office will continue to work with federal partners and thanked neighboring agencies for their assistance as the SBI completes its investigation. Officials are asking anyone with information to contact the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Additional details are expected to be released after the autopsy is completed, according to local reporting by WTVM.
