Hollingsworth attorney plans defense

MOBILE, Ala. - Richard Joseph Hollingsworth said, "I'm sorry. I'll never be able to say that enough." Despite this accused cop killer's remorseful statement, words can't change the past. Tuesday night Hollingsworth and his girlfriend left their home on Hamilton Creek Drive and headed to the Tyler Ridge Apartments for a confrontation.

Hollingsworth said, "My girlfriend had been beaten by a couple of girls in that apartment complex earlier that evening. I showed up to save my girlfriend. The guy told us to leave with a gun on his hip. I got really scared and pulled a pistol on him and shot him."

That guy was Officer Brandon Sigler. The suspect just turned 18. Hollingsworth's attorney, Jim Sears said, "I think he was genuinely sorry."

Although Sigler's gun was still holstered when he was shot, Sears claims his client was defending himself. He said, "This officer who was not in uniform and did not have a badge and did not ID himself as an officer, approached them in an aggressive manor. In order to protect himself he fired a shot at the officer."

The suspect is now facing capital murder charges, which Sears thinks is excessive. Sears added, "I understand that but he was providing security in exchange for a relationship he had with the apartment complex, not necessarily one he had with the Police Department."

Sears said he wants to talk with witnesses and head to the scene. He said he has a lot to investigate as police claimed his client used a Ruger .380 which was stolen from a Sheriff's Deputy to commit the crime.

Sears said, "Look at the details and where the information came from. We need to find out where the gun came from and whether or not it was even in his possession. Obviously it was in his possession when he pulled the trigger, but if somebody else provided it we don't know that. We have to look into that. Right now he's presumed innocent. It's an allegation that's been made against him." An allegation that was life-changing for many.

Hollingsworth is actually in the Baldwin County Jail. That's because Sigler's mom is a corrections officer at Mobile County Metro Jail.