Hay Court Apartment Shooting Suspect Charged with Attempted Murder
A suspect has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in a shooting at Hay Court Apartments earlier this month, according to court documents filed Thursday.
The Tuscaloosa Police Department and the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 4:50 p.m. on April 16 at Hay Court Apartments.
Officers found the victim, Terrell Lashawn Gardner, behind his apartment with a gunshot wound to his upper left chest.
Investigators met with Gardner Wednesday to follow up, at which point Gardner said he had been at his apartment with Octavious Ja'mikel White. Gardner said that White suddenly "flipped," and pulled out a .45 caliber handgun.
White was brought into the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit the same day for questioning, where he provided a statement inconsistent with the victim and a third-party witness. White told investigators he and Gardner had been drinking before getting into an argument.
White stated "I'm tired of this s---," before demanding Gardner return a different gun and shooting at the ground. At that point, White aimed at Gardner and shot him, then fled the scene.
Gardner was transported to DCH Regional Medical Center, where he underwent surgery and remained in intensive care for several days.