Dale County Sheriff's Office Press Release on Shooting in Ariton

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Sep 16 2016 11:26 AM

Last night at approximately 7:37 pm  Ozark/Dale County E911 received a 911 call from the 3300 Blk of North Hwy 123 in Ariton in reference to a firearms assault in progress. As deputies were responding Central Dispatch advised shots were being fired and one subject had been struck. Central Dispatch advised that the victim and his son were leaving the scene and a vehicle description was broadcasted to the responding deputies.  

A Dale County Deputy intercepted the vehicle on Hwy 123 in the Post Oak Community. The victim exited the vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body.  As the deputy was requesting aid for the victim the vehicle fled the area at a high rate of speed. A short time later an Ozark Police Officer intercepted the vehicle and a brief chase ensued.  The vehicle was eventually stopped on Faust Ave near Lisenby Primary School. That subject was detained and questioned by investigators in reference to the shooting.

The victim was transported by Ozark EMS to Dale Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased a short time later. The victim has been identified as 56 year old Joseph Dwaine Spears of Ozark. 

No arrests have been made at this time but investigators are still in the preliminary stages of the investigation and continue to gather witness statements of the incident. Dale County District Attorney Kirke Adams also responded to review the layout of the different scenes and offer any assistance that was needed from his office.

We would like to give a special thanks to Chief Marlos Walker and his patrol and investigative divisions for providing assistance in the investigation of this incident.  OPD investigators and patrol officers assisted DCSO investigators and patrol deputies in securing multiple crime scenes and gathering witness statements.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Ozark Police Department, Ozark Fire and EMS, Dale County District Attorney’s Office, Ariton Fire and Rescue and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

Although no arrest has been made at this time we are still collecting information and will consult with District Attorney Kirke Adams and his staff and an arrest may be possible in the future. Our sincere condolences go out to the Spears family during this difficult time.

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