Mobile, Alabama

From Mobile’s AL.com of February 15, 2006

Shooting victim dies; no charges filed yet

Victor Russell, who allegedly was shot by a former girlfriend during a fight Sunday in west Mobile, died Monday night at a local hospital, Mobile police said. He was 39.

Cpl. Marcus Young, a police spokesman, said no charges had been filed against the woman, Lashonda Cole, 30. But he said that the case would be presented to a Mobile County grand jury.

Cole could not be reached for comment.

Rosyln Todd, 34, who described herself as Russell's common-law wife, said Tuesday that she didn't think Cole should have been released after police questioned her.

"We are going to push this to the fullest extent of the law because he has three children who are going to miss out on their father because he was active in their lives," Todd said.

The shooting occurred shortly before 5 p.m. at Cole's house on Oak Lane Circle West off Moffett Road.

Todd lives at a house on Williams Street off Dauphin Island Parkway near Government Street. She said Russell had gone to Cole's house Sunday to pick up some of his belongings.

According to police spokesman Young, Russell struck Cole several times in the head with his fist.

The spokesman said Cole locked Russell out of the house, then fired a 9 mm pistol through the back door as Russell tried to break through. The bullet hit Russell in the face.