Mayor unsure of worker's fate

SEMMES, Ala. (WALA) - The Mayor of Semmes spoke to FOX10 about a city employee, accused of opening fire on a group of teens who were caught rolling his yard in toilet paper.

Deputies said it began as a homecoming prank between classmates of Mary G. Montgomery High School, Tuesday night.

Authorities said 39-year-old Mark Shane Raiford fired a gun at the teens as they drove away from his Semmes Home.

Semmes Mayor Judy Hale said Raiford has been the Superintendent of Public Works for just over two months and was a former US Coastguardsman.

She said she’s known him though for much longer.

“Shane, I’ve known Shane about two years or so,” said Mayor Hale. “He’s a very nice guy, a very likeable person. That’s what surprised me more than anything I guess.”

Mayor Hale said the city attorney is reviewing the employee handbook, and will later determine if Raiford should be fired or suspended from his job.

She said Raiford contacted her, asking for a few days off of work.

Raiford was charged with discharging a gun into an occupied vehicle; a felony charge that could get him up to 20 years in jail.

Deputies said after the shooting Raiford followed the five teens to a nearby gas station and held them at gunpoint until authorities arrived.

Records show the Raiford claims he was defending himself after the teens allegedly tried to run him over.

Investigators, however, said the evidence did not support his claim.

The teens could potentially face misdemeanor charges as well.