A 67-year-old woman died when a bullet went through her home and into her bedroom while she was sleeping with her husband Wednesday morning in Prichard, authorities said.
The woman was the victim of a drive-by shooting around 6 a.m. Wednesday in the 1000 block of Sample Street, said Prichard police Det. Lt. Richard Martin.
The victim, identified by media outlets as Ethel Moore Thomas, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The drive-by was one of three cases of shots fired investigated Wednesday morning by Prichard police, Martin said.
The detective said the incidents did not appear to be related except that they were possibly all “gang-type activity or juveniles involved in gang activity.”
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch, who joined Martin for a news conference on the homicide Wednesday, said more than 20 rounds were fired at each scene.
He reflected on the brashness of the deadly drive-by shooting.
“This is a senseless, reckless disregard for human life, shooting into someone’s house, especially while they are asleep. I want to send a clear message to the gutless thugs out here doing this: we’re gonna stop it,” the sheriff said. “A person’s home should be their castle, where they do feel safe from anything.”
Burch said gangs in Mobile County have also been threatening law enforcement and had a message for the criminals.
“If you point a gun at law enforcement … it will probably be the last stupid decision you make in your life,” he said.
