HANCEVILLE, Ala. – A Hanceville man was killed in an officer-involved shooting along County Road 599 near Hanceville Sunday afternoon. Cullman County Coroner Jeremy L. Kilpatrick identified the man as Robert Clay Wilsford, Sr., 65.
The incident unfolded following a call from a family member who asked the Hanceville Police Department (HPD) to do a welfare check, according to a statement from the HPD.
According to the HPD, officers arrived at the residence and were met with gunfire. The patrol car was hit several times.
The statement said shots were exchanged between Wilsford and the officers, and Wilsford was shot multiple times. Although first aid was administered, Wilsford died a short time later.
The name of the police officer involved has not been released.
Bobby Joe and Edith Calvert live next door to the home where the shooting took place.
Edith Calvert told The Tribune’s news partner, WVTM 13, “He was a nice man who played with grandkids out in the yard. I never saw him do anything that was questionable.”
The Calverts said in their 40 years living there, this is the last thing they ever expected to happen and it’s something they won’t soon forget.
“We have two little great-granddaughters who live four houses away and they’re back and forth across that yard all the time,” said Edith Calvert, “and yeah, we’re going to be a little weary about that now.”
The HPD posted the following to Facebook Monday afternoon:
A Message From Police Chief Bob Long:
“Yesterday was a terrible time for the Hanceville Police Department and the City of Hanceville. With sadness I say again what many of you already know about an officer involved shooting.”
“Hanceville Police responded to a location on County Road 599 where they encountered a man with multiple firearms. The subject was identified as Robert Wilsford Sr.”
“There was an exchange of gunfire between the officer and the subject which resulted in the officer’s patrol car being struck multiple times. Mr. Wilsford was also struck during this exchange of gunfire, and he later succumbed to his injuries at Cullman Regional Medical Center.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved, as well as their families.”
Bob Long
Chief of Police
It posted the following to its Facebook page Sunday evening:
*In Reference To The Officer Involved Shooting*
Earlier today, a concerned citizen called the Hanceville Police Department in reference to a family members well-being.
Hanceville Police Officers were dispatched to a residence on County Road 599 in Hanceville, Cullman County, Alabama to perform a welfare check on the individual whom the family member had concerns for.
Shortly after officers arrived on scene, they were met with gunfire from an individual at the residence, which struck the officers patrol car several times.
Shots were exchanged between officers and the suspect at the residence, which resulted in the suspect being shot multiple times. No officers were injured in the exchange of gunfire.
Law enforcement, fire and medical personnel all provided immediate first aid to the suspect, but he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation will be conducting the investigation into the shooting incident, as it is standard practice for an officer involved shooting.
No further details are available at this time and if/when they become available, they will be released as allowed.
The State Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation.
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