Rodney Deland Looney

A Cullman County man shot by a deputy late last year in an alleged incident of return fire has been indicted on a single count of attempted murder.

Rodney Deland Looney, 44, was indicted by a Cullman County grand jury this week in connection with the Nov. 15, 2016 incident. The indictment names Cullman County Sheriff’s Lt. Rex Sorrow as the intended victim.

“I think the facts are going to show Mr. Looney came toward the deputy with his gun pointed at him and that he intended to kill the deputy. He fired several shots at the deputy after being warned to drop his weapon. The deputy fired and struck him. He had no choice,” Cullman County District Attorney Wilson Blaylock said.

Sorrow shot Looney at Looney’s residence on County Road 1223 (Old Highway 31) in northern Cullman County, after Sorrow and another patrol deputy responded to a disturbance call at the scene shortly after midday. The residence where the shooting occurred lies just north of Simmons Grocery and just south of Lacon.

According to the sheriff’s office, Looney opened fire on Sorrow but did not strike him. Sorrow responded by returning fire in self defense, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) was called in to investigate following the incident, as is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings statewide. Looney was hospitalized from the gunshot, but his condition was upgraded within a day of the shooting.

Sheriff Matt Gentry said the investigation continues, and discussed the incident in general terms.

“We’re really blessed to live in Cullman County; I think we live in the greatest county in Alabama,” he said. “But, unfortunately, there are bad incidents we deal with here, just like anywhere. During this incident, Lt. Sorrow showed great courage. As sheriff, you pray for your deputies’ safety, and you hope incidents like this one never happen.

“Because this is an ongoing investigation by ALEA, I can’t get into the specifics of this case. I will say that law enforcement officers today are more at risk than we’ve ever been, and the deputies at the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office go out there every day to serve the citizens of this county, and put their lives at risk as part of their job.

“I want to commend Lt. Sorrow and all of the deputies at the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office — really, all law enforcement officers everywhere — who put themselves in harm’s way. It’s a different time that we live in.”

After Looney was a treated at a hospital following the shooting, he has remained in the Cullman County Detention Center on a bond of $50,000.

The Times’ David Palmer contributed to this story.