By Scott Buttram
Publisher
TRUSSVILLE –Since 2010, there have been five homicides in four separate incidents in Trussville. All were the result of domestic situations.
Three of the four cases ended when the shooter committed suicide. In the remaining case, Freddie Earl Patton awaits trial in the shooting death of Ken Millar, the father of his common-law wife.
While some of the incidents may have had some forewarning, none had been as extensively documented in the legal system as the murder-suicide that took place this week.
Before Troy Green, 29, of Birmingham, shot and killed Brittaney Owens, 26, of Trussville, his estranged girlfriend and mother of his 3-year-old child, Owens had alleged abuse. Years of abuse, according to court documents.
In the early morning hours on Tuesday, one final act of domestic violence took place when Green waited on Owens to return home to her parent’s house on North Lake Drive, police allege. There, he blocked the road with his BMW and bumped her Chevrolet as she arrived.
He then got out of his vehicle, walked up to her car, and shot Owens twice in the chest before returning to his car and turning the gun on himself.
The couples’ troubled relationship was known to local authorities. Trussville police had arrested Green in 2014 on charges of domestic violence.
Owens had filed for a protection order against Green in 2012.
In April of 2014, Owens asked the court to dismiss her complaint, saying the couple would work together communicate and that she wanted her son to have his father in his life.
In her original request for an order of protection from Green, Owens outlined multiple instances of violence dating back to 2012.
Owens alleged that Green had pushed her to the ground outside of her home in April of 2012 when she was seven months pregnant with their child.
The numerous incidents of violence covered the next two years. Owens alleged that Green and grabbed her throat in one incident and shown up and threatened her at a restaurant, prompting people who saw the episode to call the police, in another outburst of anger.
Owens stated that there was a time when she was thrown to the ground while holding her child, threats with a weapon and verbal threats than included Green saying he would “blow her brains out.”
Trussville police captain Jeff Bridges said the 2014 charges against Green were still making their way through the court system when the shooting occurred.
“It’s not closed out, yet,” Bridges said.
The two were no longer a couple, according to information gathered by Trussville detectives.
Bridges said the detective spoke to Owens’ parents who said Green had threatened her in the past and placed a GPS tracking device on her car.
“I personally don’t understand it,” Bridges said. “This is certainly not the answer for either one. For a child to grow up without a mother or a father. It’s a shame. It’s tragic for all involved but, unfortunately, this stuff happens way too much.”