Hoover, Alabama: A Hoover police officer shot during a Sunday morning domestic disturbance call is recovering after an exchange of gunfire that also left a 71-year-old man dead. Hoover Police Chief Clay Morris said the incident began when officers responded to a report of a “mentally disturbed person” in the Southlake area.
Hoover police officer shot after suspect allegedly opened fire
Police were called around 7:49 a.m. to a home in the 2000 block of River Lake Drive, according to Morris. Morris said that immediately upon officers’ arrival, a 38-year-old man brandished a handgun at a family member standing nearby and began firing.
During the encounter, one Hoover police officer was shot and transported to a hospital in stable condition. Morris said the officer is expected to make a full recovery.
The family member struck by gunfire was pronounced dead at the scene, Morris said. The Shelby County Coroner’s Office identified the man killed as 71-year-old Glenn Adrian Griggs, and ABC 33/40 reported the coroner said Griggs was discovered in the driveway.
WBRC reported that relatives at the scene told the station the shooter was Griggs’s son, but police had not confirmed that detail.
Morris said Hoover officers returned fire, striking the suspect. Police said the suspect was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Officials have not publicly released the suspect’s name, and reporting described him only as a 38-year-old male.
Because Hoover officers discharged their weapons, the case was turned over to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation.
Hoover Mayor Nick Derzis publicly praised the department’s response and said he met with the injured officer and the officer’s family.
Field Lessons are offered strictly as general, industry-standard reminders drawn from common safety practices and typical policy considerations. They are not based on any inside knowledge of this specific incident, do not presume what actions were taken, and should not be interpreted as commentary on the decisions made at the scene.
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Domestic disturbance calls can shift instantly; treat the approach as a high-risk contact and build time and distance when possible.
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Our research shows that domestic violence calls remain one of the most dangerous calls for law enforcement.
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Prioritize line of sight to hands and known occupants, and avoid funneling into tight angles without cover.
Dr. Travis Yates has pioneered a behavioral risk framework to help officers and leaders identify, assess, and articulate risk in rapidly evolving, uncertain situations. Find out more about the FOCUS Behavioral Risk Framework.
