(Update) Sheriff blames mental illness in fatal shooting

Published 3:57 pm Tuesday, July 18, 2017

The Jones Chapel man responsible for the shooting death Monday of a Cullman attorney had a history of mental illness, Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry said Tuesday.

Patrick O. Walker went to the Vinemont area residence and shot Stephen Griffith, Gentry said during a press conference, then fought with another occupant of the home who eventually killed the intruder. Gentry did not identify the other person in the house.

“I can tell you that Mr. Walker did not die from a gunshot,” Gentry said.

Investigators believe Walker was “infatuated” with the idea that Griffith had been involved in a legal case that never happened.

“They had no connection before,” Gentry said. “It’s an issue that makes me angry and that’s mental illness. This was not a murder for hire; this is a failure in our society of treating mental illness.”

The sheriff said the other person in the residence has been hospitalized but is expected to recover.

“I can tell you there was a long struggle and in the end the occupant killed Mr. Walker,” Gentry said.

Deputies responded to a call before 6 p.m. Monday. The house located at 2315 County Road 1301 remained under watch by law enforcement Tuesday.