Huntsville, Alabama

From the Huntsville Times of December 2, 2006

More details in fatal shootings

'Good Samaritan' case still open; 2 victims identified

A bystander Huntsville police called a "good Samaritan" shot and killed a man when he pointed two pistols at the bystander. Police said the homicide victim had been shooting at a man he was chasing.

Police Friday released more details of the Thursday slaying and identified the victim, Anthony Joiner, 24, of Huntsville, who died at Huntsville Hospital. He was shot in a Jordan Lane shopping plaza parking lot about 1:25 p.m., police said in a statement.
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Joiner was the 12th homicide victim in the city this year; …

The incident near Jordan Lane began when Joiner and another man were arguing at Oakwood Road and Chalet Circle, which is behind the shopping plaza at 2026 Jordan Lane, police said.

Police said witnesses told them that Joiner repeatedly fired two pistols as he chased the other man to Jordan Lane.

A bystander police called a "good Samaritan" came out of Seco Performance Center in the shopping center with a pistol and tried to stop the chase and the shooting.

The bystander shot Joiner when Joiner turned the pistols toward the bystander, police said. Joiner was found next door to the shopping plaza lying between two recreational vehicles in an auxiliary sales lot for Bankston Motor Homes.

Police did not release the names of the bystander and the man Joiner was chasing.

Police at the scene Thursday said no charges were filed against the bystander. Police spokesman Wendell Johnson said Friday that no charges have been filed against him because the investigation has not been closed.

Police said that normally in a case like this they will submit the results of their investigation to the district attorney to decide whether to pursue a grand jury indictment.

Alabama's "good Samaritan" law protects a bystander from liability if a person tries to rescue a person and in doing so injures the person.

Another state law adopted earlier this year by the Legislature and sponsored by the late Rep. Albert Hall, D-Gurley, gives a person more leeway to use deadly force if threatened.