POLICE: Man Killed in Tuscaloosa Was Beating Woman, 17-year-old Shooter Not Charged

A 43-year-old man found dead in Tuscaloosa Wednesday morning was shot while he was assaulting his girlfriend, and the 17-year-old who pulled the trigger is not being charged with a crime at this time.

Captain Kip Hart, the assistant commander of the Tuscaloosa County Violent Crimes Unit, identified the man who was killed as Kerry Deandre Shepherd.

Hart said Shepherd went to the 3100 block of 20th Street around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning and had a fight with his girlfriend there. Shepherd left, but returned shortly before 7 a.m. to retrieve some property and began fighting with the woman again.

Witnesses told investigators that Shepherd was hitting the woman and threatening to kill her while she was in a car with her children.

A 17-year-old inside the house was made aware of what has going on and retrieved a handgun then went outside to confront Shepherd.

Hart said Shepherd continued to assault the woman and the teenager shot him multiple times. When police arrived shortly after 7 o'clock, Shepherd was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hart said the 17-year-old will not be charged with a crime at this time, and after the investigation is concluded, the case will be presented to a grand jury for consideration and they will determine whether or not the shooter will face criminal charges.

Shepherd is the fourth homicide in Tuscaloosa County so far in 2019, Hart said.