HAZEL GREEN, Ala. — An investigation into a Madison County deputy-involved shooting death in early January has concluded. The district attorney's office said criminal law was not broken in connection with the death of 50-year-old Ray Dean King.
The incident took place January 5 in a neighborhood along Dixon Road in Hazel Green. In a statement released Thursday, detailing Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's (ALEA) findings, the office says deputies were responding to reports that a woman had escaped an armed, abusive partner. Later, deputies responded to a 911 call in the same area for a report of shots fired. "When law enforcement arrived, neighbors indicated a different address on Dixon Road than the one initially given," the statement read.
The address deputies arrived at was ultimately not the address where shots had been fired, but rather the home of Ray King, who answered the door with a gun in his hand, which the D.A.'s office statement said he pointed at police. "Deputies, facing what they believed to be an armed suspect pointing a weapon at them, shot and killed Mr. King," the statement reads.
All body camera footage and related recorded interactions were obtained, and statements taken and provided to ALEA investigators, before the file was given to the D.A.
"Upon review, it appears that Mr. King did not know that the individuals he was dealing with were Sheriff’s Deputies and he armed himself before opening the door," the D.A.'s office said. "While this situation is tragic, it does not violate a criminal statute under Alabama law. "
The case is now considered closed. The district attorney's office's complete statement follows, unedited:
On January 5, 2023, officers from the Madison County Sheriff's Office responded to multiple requests for service near Dixon Road in Hazel Green, Alabama. Officers received initial information from a traffic stop where a woman told deputies she was fleeing an armed domestic abuser making threats with a gun. The woman provided deputes with an address on Dixon Road. Shortly thereafter, deputies responded to a 911 call in the same area for a report of shots having been fired. When law enforcement arrived, neighbors indicated a different address on Dixon Road than the one initially given.
Faced with conflicting information, deputies responded to 201 Dixon Road. Unbeknownst to them, the address they arrived at was not the address where shots had been fired. Deputies knocked on the front door. The homeowner, Ray King, answered the door with a firearm in his hand which he pointed at police. Deputies, facing what they believed to be an armed suspect pointing a weapon at them, shot and killed Mr. King.
The Sheriff’s Office immediately turned the investigation over to the Alabama Law Enforcement Authority, who conducted a complete and thorough investigation. All bodycams and recorded interactions were obtained, and statements taken from everyone involved. At the conclusion of that investigation, the file was given to our office for review.
Criminal law in the United States has a very limited scope of jurisdiction and is defined by strict statutes. Alabama Code 13A-3-23 allows anyone, including police, to use deadly physical force in self-defense if they reasonably and honestly believe that they are in danger of being killed by the unlawful use of deadly physical force themselves. The person engaging in self-defense is held to a high standard. They must honestly believe their life is in danger. They must honestly believe the threat is imminent. And they must have a legal right to be in the place they are when using self-defense.
Upon review, it appears that Mr. King did not know that the individuals he was dealing with were Sheriff’s Deputies and he armed himself before opening the door. Likewise, deputies were conducting a lawful investigation into a reportedly violent active shooter. When the door was opened by an armed individual who pointed a gun at them, they reasonably feared for their lives at the moment they fired. While this situation is tragic, it does not violate a criminal statute under Alabama law. Our office is bound by the principles of law set forth by the Alabama Legislature and the United States Constitution.
The limited and strict focus of this office is in determining whether criminal law has been violated under state statutes. Our inquiry does not encompass liability under state or federal civil law. While all agree this was a tragic episode, criminal statutes are designed to encompass bad actors and not tragic mistakes. No further action will be taken by this office on this matter.