TUSCALOOSA, Ala (WIAT) – Tuscaloosa County investigators say evidence suggests a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Wednesday is justified.
At 2:23 a.m. Wednesday, Hale County Law enforcement told the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office that 38-year-old Matthew Matherson fired shots at their officers, and Matherson was nearing Tuscaloosa’s County line.
“Officers did an excellent job performed with professionalism and at this point in the investigation everything appears to be justified,” VCU Captain Marty Sellers said.
Hale and Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s deputies, as well as Moundville, Greensboro and Tuscaloosa Police officers were tailing Matherson as he sped down Highway 69 North.
Once Matherson made it to Northport, he pulled over at Bell Auto Parts, got out of his car and opened fire on officers. A TCSO deputy fired back, killing Matherson.
“We’re lifting the officers that were involved up in prayer,” Matherson’s uncle, Zachary Stone said. “None of them went to work last night and wanted to take someone’s life. They were only doing their job.”
Wednesday morning was not Matherson’s first encounter with law enforcement. In 2016, he was charged with attempted murder but pleaded to 1st degree assault and firing a gun into an occupied building, according to court documents.
Within the last two years, Matherson was found guilty of domestic violence/harassment in the third degree and trespassing.
Wednesday morning, Matherson drove a car into a Hale County home and stole a total of five vehicles, evading officers in two counties, Hale County Sheriff Micheal Hamilton said.
When HCSO deputies attempted to arrest Matherson, he fired shots at the deputies. Hamilton said that’s when he fled to Tuscaloosa County.
It was still dark outside when Matherson was shot and killed in Northport, Sellers said.
The case will go before a grand jury.
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