Man killed by Athens Police identified

ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT) — The Athens Police Department (APD) says the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) is investigating after an officer-involved shooting in Athens.

According to Limestone County Coroner Mike West, Maurice White, 40 of Athens was the man killed by Athens Police during the shooting Wednesday night.

APD said that around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, officers responded to a call that a man threatened a homeowner with a gun, discharged the weapon, and fled the area.

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The department said officers arrived at the scene and attempted to convince the man to give up the gun. The person refused and ran on foot to a neighborhood on Songbird Drive.

APD Chief Anthony Pressnell said the man then fired on officers and fled between two homes. Officers ordered him to drop the gun and used a taser on him. He said despite the taser the man pointed the gun at officers.

The chief said the man was shot around 7:20 p.m. and that officers attempted first aid but were unsuccessful.

West told News 19 Wednesday that the White died on the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.

Cornell Florence, who lives in the neighborhood where the incident took place, told News 19’s Darryl Burke that the incident is an unusual sight for the area around his home.

“My sister has been living in this area for five years and I’ve been down here for two years at the end of this month, and we have no problems.,” he said. “You can walk around here at midnight and still have no problems.”

Pressnell said APD contacted the SBI, who will oversee the investigation. Authorities said there is no longer any danger to the public.

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