Opelika suspect shoots and kills man 75 yards away, says he missed his target
A man was arrested Sunday in Lee County and charged with murder after allegedly shooting a victim from 75 yards away and admitting he missed his intended target, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday.
The news release says deputies responded to a shooting in the 100 block of Lee Road 685 North at 7:24 p.m. Sunday and made contact with 58-year-old Christopher James Espey Futral, of Opelika.
Futral was hiding behind a fence and called out to deputies. Futral told them he was putting his gun down and coming out with his hands up, according to the news release.
Futral was detained and placed in a patrol vehicle, the news release says.
The sheriff’s office says 58-year-old Oscar Lee Eiland, of Opelika, was found in a residence in the 100 block of Lee Road 685 North with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds to the pelvic and groin area.
Eiland succumbed to his injuries at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Investigators recovered a .243 caliber bolt action hunting rifle and multiple spent shell casings from the yard at Futral’s residence,” the news release says.
The sheriff’s office says Futral shot Eiland from a perched position 75 yards away. The sheriff’s office says Futral admitted to the shooting but missed his intended target.
Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones told the Ledger-Enquirer the intended victim and Eiland were acquainted with each other.
Jones said the Lee County Sheriff’s Office previously had responded to criminal behavior by Futral.
The sheriff’s office says Futral is being held in the Lee County Detention Center with no bond, awaiting an Aniah’s Law hearing.
Aniah’s Law provides judges more authority to deny bail to people charged with serious crimes, such as murder, according to the Stove’s Law Firm website.
Authorities ask anyone with information about this case to call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 1:50 PM.