Jemison man arrested in connection with fatal stabbing
Published 2:04 pm Tuesday, October 1, 2013
A Jemison man is being held at the Chilton County Jail on a manslaughter charge in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 34-year-old Jemison man on Sunday.
Officers from JPD and Jemison Rescue were dispatched at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday to the 1000 block of County Road 152 on a report of a male subject who had been stabbed.
Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer said in a release when officers arrived at the scene, they found Jeremy Richard Brasher, 34, of Jemison, lying in the yard of the residence suffering from at least two stab wounds, one to the chest and another in the abdomen.
Fulmer said medical personnel were quickly on the scene and started treating Brasher.
Brasher was transported to Shelby Baptist Medical Center where he was pronounced dead from the injuries.
Prior to arriving on the scene and within a few minutes of receiving the call, Jemison police officers were given a description of the suspect and were able to locate him on foot not far from the crime scene.
The suspect was identified as Tommy Joe Ashworth Jr., 33, of Jemison and authorities took Ashworth into custody at the scene.
Investigators began the investigation to include processing the crime scene, interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence, according to Fulmer.
“The investigation revealed that Brasher and Ashworth engaged in a verbal altercation that turned physical and that involved both individuals being armed with a knife,” Fulmer said in a release. “During the physical altercation, Ashworth stabbed Brasher that ultimately caused the fatal injuries.”
Fulmer said on Tuesday that Brasher was living at the residence off County Road 152 with Ashworth and a female, and a neighbor was one of the witnesses.
On Monday afternoon, an arrest warrant was obtained and Ashworth was charged with manslaughter. Ashworth is currently being held in the Chilton County Jail on a $150,000 bond.
“This is still an ongoing investigation and will be for quite some time,” Fulmer said in a release. “All the Jemison officers involved have done an outstanding job. We appreciate all the outside agencies who responded including Thorsby Police Department, Chilton County Sheriff’s deputies, the Chilton County District Attorney’s office and all the medical personnel. This is a sad time for the victim’s family and our condolences go out to them. It is very tragic anytime a life is taken under any circumstance.”