Gunman goes to police station to ‘shoot the place up,’ AL police say. Cops fired back

A 911 caller kept his word when he pledged to show up at a police station with guns blazing, but he didn’t live long enough to get into the building, according to investigators in north Alabama.

The gunman died in the parking lot when officers returned fire, Florence’s Chief of Police Mike Holt said at a press conference.

It happened around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, outside the Florence Police Department, about a 115-mile drive northwest from Birmingham.

“An individual called 911, said that he was at the police department and he was going to shoot the place up,” Holt said.

“Officers responded. He was armed, he fired shots and our officers returned fire and the suspect is deceased.”

It’s not yet clear if the suspect was shooting at the building or at officers who confronted him, Holt said.

The number of officers involved is not yet known, but some poured out of the building, while others arrived in patrol cars, he said. No officers were hurt.

Investigators have not released the suspect’s name or a possible motive.

Holt said he “had no idea” why the suspect called 911 to warn police of his arrival.

The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office will lead an investigation of the shooting, he said.

“Your officers do a very hard job. They’re called to do very difficult things at times, and this is one of those times,” Holt said.

“Nobody wants this type of outcome. It’s not what any officer wants to come to work and do, but they’re prepared to do it.”

This story was originally published January 16, 2025 at 7:29 AM with the headline "Gunman goes to police station to ‘shoot the place up,’ AL police say. Cops fired back."