Collinsville, Alabama

From the Huntsville Times of December 24, 2005

Man kills brother in DeKalb shooting

Investigator says James Craig acted in self-defense

A DeKalb County man was killed and his brother and sister-in-law were hurt in a gun battle Friday morning in Collinsville, a Sheriff's Department spokeswoman said.

Gary Kenneth Craig, 57, died after being shot once or twice during a gunfight with his brother, James Earl Craig, 62, said investigator Rhonda Jackson. The brothers were neighbors in Collinsville.

James Craig was shot five times and his wife, Shelia, 53, was shot once. Both were taken to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, where they were being treated in the emergency room Friday afternoon.

Jackson said an alcohol-related dispute led to James Craig removing his brother from his home. Gary Craig then got a rifle from his pickup truck and fired through his brother's front door, striking his brother and sister-in-law.

James Craig returned fire, killing his brother, Jackson said. James Craig drove himself and his wife to the Collinsville Police Department to notify authorities about the shooting. From there, they were taken by ambulance to Baptist Medical Center-DeKalb in Fort Payne and later transferred to Erlanger.

Jackson said Gary Craig's body was lying on his brother's front porch when investigators arrived. She said James Craig will not be charged since he apparently shot his brother in self-defense.