Suspect arrested for officer's murder

MOBILE, Ala. - "Y'all pray for me," were 18-year-old Richard Joseph Hollingsworth's final words as police officers closed the cruiser door Wednesday morning. He is under arrest for the murder of Officer Brandon Sigler.

Investigators say Officer Sigler was the courtesy officer at the Tyler Ridge Apartments on Thomas Road. He was shot around 11:30 Tuesday night while dealing with what is being called a "disorderly incident" in the parking lot of the complex. Sigler was rushed to Providence Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was just 26 years old.

The suspects drove off, and about 30 minutes after the shooting, officers spotted a vehicle matching a description from the scene and gave chase. The vehicle crashed at McFarland and Dawes Roads.  A man and a woman were in the vehicle.  The man was taken into custody, LifeFlight airlifted the woman to a local hospital. She will be questioned once she is released. About 45 minutes after the crash, investigators got a tip that led them to Hamilton Creek Road where a third possible suspect was taken into custody.

Reporters questioned Hollingsworth Wednesday morning as officers escorted him to a cruiser.  He said he did not know Sigler was a police officer and shot him becuase he was scared.

Hollingsworth described what happened Tuesday night to FOX10's April Douglas.

Douglas: "What were you scared of?"
Hollingsworth: "I seen a gun. He wasn't wearing a badge."
Douglas: "Why were you over at this apartment complex?"
Hollingsworth: "Because my girlfriend had been beaten by couple other girls at that apartment complex earlier that evening. I showed up to save my girlfriend. A guy told us to leave with a gun on his hip. I got really scared and pulled a pistol out and shot him."
Douglas: "What do you want to say to his family knowing he's dead?"
Hollingsworth: "I am so sorry.  I'll never be able to say it enough."