By Joshua Huff, sports editor
MOODY — A GoFundme account has been set up for the family and fellow officers of the Moody police officer who died following a shooting late Tuesday night at the Super 8 on U.S. 411 in Moody.
Moody Police Chief Thomas Hunt identified the deceased officer as Sgt. Stephen Williams.
“All I can ask is for everyone to be in prayer for the Williams family and the Moody Police Department,” Hunt said.
Williams was a 23-year veteran and had been with the Moody Police Department for three years. He was the night-shift sergeant. He had been promoted to sergeant in the past year and was honored with the Chiefs Award of Excellence during the 2019 Christmas Banquet.
“He was awesome,” Hunt said of the father of three. “He was a good man. A good person, funny to be around.”
The ordeal began around 9:30 p.m. when officers from the Moody Police Department arrived at the Super 8 following a call for a disturbance at the hotel. The events leading up to the shooting are vague, but Hunt said that Williams was shot on arrival.
Williams was promptly transported to UAB Hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead. A medical helicopter had arrived to the scene, but was not used.
Police surrounded the hotel for hours following Williams’ shooting. After a tense standoff, authorities apprehended one male and one female. No information regarding their identities or a motive has yet to be released.
St. Clair County Sheriff Billy Murray told Stephen Quinn of ABC 33/40 on Wednesday afternoon that charges are expected to be filed on Thursday and that the shooting was not tied to the ongoing protests throughout the country.
“I am deeply saddened to hear Sergeant Stephen Williams was killed in the line of duty last night,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement. “He served the Moody Police Department with distinction and had a long, honorable career in law enforcement. In the end, he died a hero, fulfilling the oath he swore to do — to uphold the community he served.”
Williams is the second police officer to die in the line of duty in 2020. Kimberly police officer Nick O’Rear was killed on Feb. 4 during a vehicle pursuit on I-65 near Old U.S. Highway 31.
Hours after Williams’ death, a GoFundme account was set up to support Williams’ family and fellow officers.
“Beyond his career in law enforcement, he was a father, and now, three children are left without their dad. We must not forget Sgt. Williams’ ultimate sacrifice was that of his family,” Ivey said. “This senseless violence must end. Every day, brave men and women who wear the badge put their lives on the line in order to keep us safe. We are greatly indebted for his service on our behalf. I ask the people of Alabama to join me in prayer for his family, friends and his brothers in arms.”
A petition was also created asking for the revocation of the license of the Super 8 motel, which alleges that the “motel houses drug dealers/users, sex offenders and transients.”
As of Wednesday morning, there have been hundreds of people who have signed the petition in an effort to get the City Council and Mayor Joe Lee to immediately revoke the motel’s license for the safety of the community.