Jemison man indicted on murder, terrorist threat charges

Published 2:47 pm Monday, August 24, 2015

A Jemison man accused of killing his wife during a dispute that rocked Jemison in April was indicted on murder and making terrorist threats charges.

Eric Heath Price, 26, faces one charge of murder in the shooting death of his wife, Leaj Jarvis Price, and three charges of making terrorist threats.

Price allegedly shot Leaj Price April 13 at Jemison Internal Medicine, a doctor’s office near the couple’s residence, as she tried to escape him.

The three charges of making terrorist threats stem from Price pointing a gun at three different people in the doctor’s office during the incident, including a doctor.

Price was indicted by an August grand jury in Chilton County, and will appear in court Sept. 10 at 8 a.m. for his arraignment before Chilton County Circuit Judge Ben A. Fuller.

Price remains in jail without a bond after Chilton County District Judge Rhonda Hardesty filed an order May 5 citing the nature of the offense charged, the probability of convictions, the likelihood of a lengthy sentence and the type of weapon used, a firearm, in the crime, as reasons a bond would not be set in the case.

After the shooting at Jemison Internal Medicine, located off U.S. Highway 31 in Jemison, Price returned to the nearby home he shared with Leaj Price and barricaded himself inside, leading to a lengthy standoff with police.

Authorities said at the time of the incident that the suspect and victim had been involved in a domestic altercation that led Leaj Price to the doctor’s office asking for help.

While she was standing in the lobby with witnesses, Price entered with a firearm in hand and approached Leaj Price. After words were exchanged, Price allegedly fired a single shot, striking the victim.

No one else in or around the area was harmed. The doctor’s office staff immediately locked themselves in a back room until the office was secured by law enforcement.

Agencies including the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office, Jemison Police Department, Thorsby Police Department, Clanton Police Department, Alabama State Troopers, State of Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and U.S. Marshals responded to the incident.

If convicted, the murder charge carries a punishment of 10 years to life in prison.