Deputies search for suspects after home invasion, shooting

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - There were scary moments in two Mobile neighborhoods early Sunday morning after a home invasion shooting off Lott Rd. led to a standoff with a suspect in Axis.

Authorities are still searching for one suspect after a woman was shot while she and her husband struggled with intruders during the home invasion on Sunday, officials said.

The Mobile County Sheriff's Office had to call out its SWAT team to try to get to one suspect who had barricaded himself inside his home.

Deputies said, when the shooting itself happened early Sunday morning, at least two suspects entered the home, where several people were inside.

Lt. Paul Burch with the Mobile County Sheriff's Office said, "It appears that the intention was robbery. One of the homeowners did struggle with the suspect at the front door, and in the residence, and the victim who was shot was attempting to help her husband and was shot in the process."

Deputies said she was taken to USA Medical Center after being shot in the stomach and suffering life threatening injuries. Rusty Jones lives nearby, and said he and his wife know the shooting victim.

Jones said, "I seen the police over there and then my wife come and told me that somebody kicked her door in, and she got in a tussle with them, and they shot her."

Deputies said the suspects took off, but that one was found at his home in Axis, barricaded inside. That's when the Mobile County Sheriff's Office called out its SWAT team; people who live in the neighborhood found a surprise when they walked outside.

Shannon Hough said, "We were headed to church this morning, and they stopped us, and wouldn't let us out."

Alicia Clifton said, "We were getting ready to go to church, and we came outside and there's probably 30 sheriff's cars, people in SWAT outfits.  They had the canine dogs, they had a paddy wagon. There was a van, and there were policemen all in there."

The suspect was taken into custody without incident, but people in the neighborhood won't soon forget this Sunday morning.

Hough said, "That's very scary to know that there's somebody right down the road from you capable of doing something like that."

Deputies are not currently releasing the name of the shooting victim, or the man they took in for questioning.