Guntersville Police Officer Shot

September 21, 2009
A Guntersville Police officer was shot around 8:15 p.m. Monday night.  The officer was involved in a chase of a felony suspect when the shooting occurred.  Three suspects in the shooting, two male and one female, were taken into custody by Guntersville Police immediately after the incident.  The officer was identified as Jason Austin.

According to some reports the chase began in Albertville, with Guntersville officers joining the chase when the vehicle came into Guntersville.  At one point the chase was headed toward Arab.  Arab officers were enroute to help when notified that the suspect car had doubled back toward Guntersville.  The chase then wound back through Guntersville and ended when the car wrecked on Wyeth Drive where one of the suspects fired at the officer.  At least three Arab Police units responded to the "officer down" call to assist.

The officer reportedly received a gunshot wound to the head with a small caliber weapon.  He was transported to Huntsville Hospital by a Marshall Health System ambulance.  Two Arab Police units escorted the ambulance to Huntsville Hospital.  The officer's wounds were not thought to be life threatening.

Update: Guntersville Police Officer Jason Austin was released from Huntsville Hospital around Mid-night Monday night.  A news conference has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday to release additional details about the shooting.