From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
GRAND BAY, Ala. — An Alabama man confronted a neighbor who was urinating in public and was shot in the face during a gunfight that followed, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office said.
Their fight began as the man was urinating in a street near Grand Bay early Sunday morning, Mobile County Sheriff’s Capt. Paul Burch said.
The upset neighbor, identified as John Williams, 38, retrieved a gun from his car and began firing the first shots, Burch told news outlets. The other man then got a gun from his own vehicle and returned fire, he said. At least 10 rounds were fired in the exchange.
“The one who was mad about the guy peeing is the one who fired the first shots and he got shot,” Burch told Al.com.
Williams’ injuries weren’t considered life-threatening and he was flown to a hospital in Pensacola for treatment, Burch said. According to news reports, the round went through the victim’s mouth.
“It was very scary to see blood gushing. To actually see the impact of the whole situation and him bleeding and hollering, it’s just too much,” Toccara Finkley, the victim’s girlfriend, told WALA. “A girl I work with is a nurse so she coached me through everything — apply pressure to stop the bleeding real fast.”
No charges were filed as of Monday. Burch said the investigation was turned over to the District Attorney to see whether a case could be made for self-defense.
“He was being shot at first,” Burch said. “This is out in the county, there wouldn’t be an ordinance about urinating in public. It’s more common decency than anything.”
