Suspect apprehended after fatal shooting, standoff (updated)

Published 10:25 am Monday, April 13, 2015

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Emergency personnel respond to a shooting and possible hostage situation near Dr. Jayprakash Patel's office in Jemison on Monday.

Emergency personnel respond to a shooting and possible hostage situation near Dr. Jayprakash Patel’s office in Jemison on Monday.

A Clanton man fatally shot a woman Monday who had fled to a nearby doctor’s office in an attempt to escape him.

After the shooting at Dr. Jayprakash Patel’s office, located off U.S. Highway 31 in Jemison, Heath Price returned to the couple’s home nearby and barricaded himself inside, leading to a lengthy standoff with police.

The shooting occurred at about 9:30 a.m. Price was taken into custody at about 12:30 p.m., after police fired tear gas into the residence, Chilton County Sheriff John Shearon said.

As Price exited the residence, he had what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Shearon said.

“We got him without incident from that point on,” Shearon said.

Shearon said officers did not fire shots at the suspect, and he never fired shots at them. No one but the victim was shot at the doctor’s office.

The suspect was hospitalized because of the injuries.

If and when he is released from the hospital, he will be charged with murder, said C.J. Robinson, chief deputy district attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit.

Jemison and Thorsby schools were placed on lockdown as result of the situation, according Chilton County School Superintendent Tommy Glasscock.

Nearby businesses, including Pizza Hut, Subway and Anytime Fitness, were forced to close, and traffic was diverted off the stretch of Highway 31 running in front of the residence.

Agencies responding included the 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 Service.

Shearon said JPD would handle the investigation.