On Wednesday, April 15, at the request of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Special Agents assigned to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) launched an officer-involved shooting investigation involving a Deputy with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred at approximately 5:36 p.m. when Deputies with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office were attempting to serve an arrest warrant for First-Degree Rape at a residence in the 900 Block of County Road 188 in Loachapoka, located within Lee County. The suspect, later identified as Wilder Cobon Gomez, 36, a Guatemalan national, fired at Deputies, striking one Deputy in the arm. As a result, one of the Deputies returned fire, fatally wounding Gomez. The injured Deputy was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. Gomez was pronounced deceased at the scene. His body has been transported to the Alabama Department of Forensics Sciences (ADFS) for an autopsy.
ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said, “Violence is never the answer. However, this marks the second law enforcement officer in Alabama this month who has been shot while carrying out his oath to protect and serve. Incidents like this serve as a stark reminder of the danger law enforcement faces each day and underscores the importance of respect and support for those who wear the badge. We are grateful the Deputy is expected to make a full recovery and continue to keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers.”
Nothing further is available as the investigation remains ongoing. Once complete, the findings will be turned over to the Lee County District Attorney’s Office.
