Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ted Sexton releases detailed report on the Sumners Grocery robbery in Holt, Al.

 Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ted Sexton releases detailed report on the Sumners Grocery robbery in Holt, Al.
This is his Press Release:

Barry Mullenix

On December 23, 2011, at 2:44:13 p.m. the Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call reporting a robbery at Sumners Grocery located at 4104 Alabama Avenue NE, Holt. The frantic female clerk reports she was robbed at gunpoint of cash and her own personal handgun. The clerk hangs the phone up. Sheriff’s Communications operators contact the shaken clerk back on the phone and the clerk identifies by name, Barry Mullenix as the suspect.

The first unit arrives at Sumners Grocery 2 minutes and 33 seconds after the 9-1-1 call.
A second unit arrives at Sumners Grocery within seconds. A third unit traveling on Alabama Avenue, in route to Sumners Grocery observed persons getting in a 1995 4 door Toyota in a driveway at Crescent Ridge Road and Alabama Avenue, the home of the Mullenix’s. The unit completed a u-turn and is in route back to the Toyota when communications broadcasts the information received from the clerk at Sumners Grocery, that Barry Mullinex was the suspect.

The deputy observed the Toyota backing out of the driveway on to Crescent Ridge Road, attempting to travel north. The uniformed deputy, driving an unmarked Sheriff’s pickup truck turned on his emergency signals while traveling east-bound at the intersection of Alabama Avenue and Crescent Ridge Road. The deputy then turned southbound on Crescent Ridge Road in front of the northbound Toyota. The deputy knew that the Toyota had pulled out of the Mullenix residence. The Toyota was occupied by 4 persons; Mullinex, his Father, sister and a 3 year old child. The uniformed deputy exited his truck and observed Barry Mullenix seated in the rear of the Toyota, behind the driver, apparently reaching for something. The deputy drew his weapon, yelling commands to the vehicle to “show me your hands”. Barry Mullenix resisted the commands given by the deputy. Mullenix opened the rear passenger door on the driver’s side, stepping out of the door, raising a handgun and fired at the deputy, striking the deputy in the right upper thigh. The deputy immediately returned fire, striking Barry Mullenix in the center of his chest. Mullenix immediately dropped to the ground. The deputy called on the radio at 2:47:45 “shots fired”.

The deputy retreated to the rear of his vehicle; units arrived on the scene and took control. The Tuscaloosa Police Department was requested to take charge of the scene. The Alabama Bureau of Investigations was contacted to conduct an Officer Involved Shooting investigation, with the assistance of the Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Unit and the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney’s office. At the conclusion of the investigation, the finding will be presented to the Tuscaloosa County Grand Jury.

After a review of information, witness statements, and deputies at the scene, it is my opinion at this time that this Deputy Involved Shooting was within policy of the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and that this deputy found himself with no other alternative but to respond to the actions of Mullenix with deadly force.

* 2:44:13 Sheriff’s Office receives frantic 9-1-1 call reporting robbery

* 2:46:46 units arrive on scene at Sumners Grocery

* 2:47:00 communications broadcast to all units that the suspect is Barry Mullenix

* 2:47:45 a deputy broadcasts on the radio “shots fired”

Total elapsed time from 9-1-1 call to “shots fired” - 3 minutes, 32 seconds
Distance from Sumners Grocery to location of Officer Involved Shooting- approximately 215 yds.
Distance between the Deputy and Barry Mullenix - approximately 15 - 20 feet