Tuscaloosa Officer Fires on Suspect Trying to Flee Police at Apartments, No One Shot

An outside investigation is underway after a Tuscaloosa officer reportedly fired on a driver fleeing police at apartments in the southern part of the city Thursday night.

Captain Jack Kennedy, the commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, said Tuscaloosa Police officers responded to Landmark Apartments on Old Montgomery Highway off Skyland Boulevard after a shots-fired call around 9 p.m.

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Witnesses reported gunshots had been fired from a red vehicle, and a few minutes later, officers spotted a vehicle matching that description and tried to interview its driver, 30-year-old Tyler Guyton.

"Guyton initially refused to identify himself and then put his vehicle in drive and fled at a high rate of speed," Kennedy said. "The officers gave pursuit on foot and in patrol vehicles. Guyton drove towards the exit of the parking lot, which was blocked by an occupied TPD patrol unit. Guyton slammed on the brakes, backed up, and then began to drive back towards the occupied patrol unit."

One of the TPD officers on foot fired a single round at the driver's side of the supect vehicle as they continued to order Guyon to stop.

Kennedy said after briefly stopping, Guton then drove back into the parking lot at high speed until he drove into a dead-end and refused to exit the car.

Kennedy said TPD was eventually able to remove him and he had a minor injury which was determined not to have been caused by the bullet - Kennedy said it was possible due to broken glass.

The Violent Crimes Unit is a team comprised of detectives from the Tuscaloosa, Northport, and University of Alabama Police Departments and the County Sheriff's Office. They forego jurisdictional boundaries and investigate almost all local deaths that occur outside of a hospital setting, as well as assault cases and sex crimes. Their involvement in a death case does not necessarily indicate suspicion of foul play.

Because the shooting involved a Tuscaloosa Police Officer, only investigators who are unaffiliated with TPD will work the case.

Kennedy, who works for TCSO, said Guyton was charged with Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer, Obstructing Government Operations, and Reckless Endangerment.

He specified that investigations into the original shots-fired call, Guyton’s reason for being at the complex and fleeing from police, and the circumstances under which the officer discharged his weapon are all still underway.

The VCU's findings will be turned over to the county district attorney, who could present further charges to a grand jury for future indictment if necessary.

For more coverage of crime and courts in west Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.