BAILEYTON – The victim in Tuesday morning's fatal shooting in the community of Baileyton has been identified as Johnathan Andrew Smith, 34, of Blountsville, according to Cullman County Coroner Jeremy L. Kilpatrick.
Smith was shot when he and another individual, who has not been apprehended or identified, allegedly entered the home of a third person on County Road 1759 some time after 8 a.m. Tuesday. The homeowner shot Smith.
Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry says that an altercation ensued at the residence. "We believe this was an isolated incident. The individuals knew each other, and the individual in the house was targeted by the two suspects. It was not random. We want the community to know they are safe. This was a targeted, isolated incident. We are unsure as to the motive, but we believe it was either an attempted assault or robbery.
"We received information that a shooting occurred and that two people fled in a vehicle," said Gentry. "We located the vehicle on Highway 67. One of the occupants fled on foot."
Smith's body was found in the vehicle in the 5800 block of Highway 67.
A K-9 deputy with the Cullman County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) was brought in to aid in the search, along with a helicopter from the Cullman City Police Department (CPD); however, the second suspect remains at large. Authorities believe he has left the area.
The Baileyton Volunteer Fire Department, as well as the CCSO, CPD and Cullman Emergency Medical Services worked the scenes.
Gentry confirmed that both crime scenes- the house where the shooting occurred and the car where the victim was found- were cleared at approximately 11:40 a.m., but investigators are still following up on leads to identify the driver of the vehicle.
The CCSO is not releasing the identity of the shooter at this time.
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