3 Seriously Hurt in 3 Unrelated Weekend Shootings in Tuscaloosa

Police in Tuscaloosa are investigating three unrelated shootings reported in the city last weekend that left three people seriously injured.

Stephanie Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Tuscaloosa Police Department, said the first call came in at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon when a woman reported that someone had fired shots into the vehicle she and three children were inside.

Taylor said officers responded to Hay Court on 22nd Avenue and found more than a dozen shell casings at the scene. Although the woman's car was shot and damaged, no one in the car was hurt.

The case has been turned over to the multi-agency Violent Crimes Unit, and no arrests have been made as of Monday morning.

The second shooting took place around 8:30 Sunday morning at Crescent East Apartments on 2nd Street East, Taylor said.

Police believe three family members there had been arguing over money when one of them, 26-year-old Rakeen Okee Bell, allegedly drew a firearm and shot the others.

Taylor said the victims were hospitalized with serious injuries and Bell was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder. He was placed in the Tuscaloosa County Jail, where he remained Monday morning on a combined $100,000 bond.

Finally, a man was reportedly shot in his own home in University Manor on 29th Place later Sunday.

Taylor said police were called to the neighborhood around 11:20 p.m. The victim told officers that he was watching television with his wife and four children when they heard gunfire nearby.

The victim reportedly took cover with his family on the floor of their living room, but at least one bullet entered the house and struck the father. Taylor said the victim is at DCH Regional Medical Center being treated for wounds that were "serious" but likely were not life-threatening.

The VCU continues to investigate that shooting and no arrests have been made in the case as of Monday morning.