The man who attacked and killed a Cullman attorney Monday had a history of mental illness that culminated in the fatal shooting, as well as the assailant’s death, Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry said Tuesday.

Stephen Griffith, a longtime Cullman attorney known to family and friends as “Steve,” was shot and killed inside his home at 2315 County Road 1301 near Vinemont shortly before 6 p.m. Monday. Griffith was 73 years old.

Another occupant in the home fought with the attacker, 45 year-old Patrick O. Walker of Jones Chapel, in a lengthy struggle that resulted in Walker’s death, Gentry said.

The person who fought with Walker has been receiving medical treatment, the sheriff said. Gentry declined to identify the surviving victim, but said the victim was recovering from injuries Tuesday at Cullman Regional Medical Center.

“This was an isolated incident,” Gentry said. “An individual we’ve identified as Patrick Walker went to Mr. Stephen Griffith’s residence with the intention of killing him. Mr. Walker went inside the residence and shot Mr. Griffith.”

Gentry said the other occupant of the house was involved in “a long struggle” with Walker before the assailant was killed. Gentry did not provide details, but did say that a gun was not used to kill the intruder. He said the gun investigators believe was used to kill Griffith was recovered at the scene.

“This is a subject we’ve talked about many times. It’s a subject that makes me angry to talk about; that’s mental illness,” Gentry said. “In 1997 there was a case involving Mr. Walker, and for the last decade he has believed the victim was involved in the case. We’ve identified that Mr. Walker had mental issues. Mr. Walker became infatuated with Mr. Griffith, even though there was no connection between the two.”

Gentry said many rumors have circulated about the case, particularly via social media, but said it was not a murder-for-hire situation.

“How many times have we talked about law enforcement in standoffs or law enforcement in shootouts with a mentally ill person, or citizens getting hurt?” Gentry said. “The system is failing our citizens. It’s an issue we need to stand up and fix.”

The sheriff also said, according to his department’s investigation, Walker at one time had received mental health treatment, but for years the assailant believed he knew Griffith when, in fact, he did not.

Asked about how Walker obtained a gun, Gentry said, “If a bad guy wants a gun, a bad guy’s going to get a gun.”

Court records show Walker was charged in south Alabama with a second degree marijuana possession in 1997, but they do not reveal that Walker had any documented history of violent criminal behavior.

The bodies of Griffith and Walker have been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for autopsies, according to Cullman County Coroner Jeremy Kilpatrick. Gentry said the investigation is ongoing.

Griffith was a native and lifelong resident of Cullman. He had practiced law for nearly 50 years and was the senior partner at the Cullman law firm of Griffith, Lowry & Meherg, located in the First Avenue SW office building that bears Griffith’s name.

The firm posted on its Facebook site a note Tuesday on Griffith’s death: “Our hearts are broken. We have lost our senior partner, our mentor, our friend. No one will ever be able to replace Steve Griffith. He was larger than life. We will miss him more than words can express. Our hearts and prayers go out to Steve’s family.”

According to the law firm’s website, Griffith was married to the former Jackie Mann. They have two children and four grandchildren. He also served on the Cullman County 911 Board.

Phillip W. McCallum, executive director of the Alabama State Bar, issued the following statement on Griffith:

“Steve was a fine, well-respected Alabama lawyer. We at the bar are saddened by his passing and mourn his loss. Steve served the state bar as a commissioner for six years. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Jackie and the rest of the family.”