BAY MINETTE, Ala. — A 24-year-old Bay Minette man is charged with attempted murder after police say he walked up behind a woman in her driveway early Monday and shot her once in the back of the head following a daylong dispute.
The 51-year-old victim survived and was in stable condition at North Baldwin Infirmary, according to the Bay Minette Police Department.
What police say happened
At about 2:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, Bay Minette police officers responded to a report of a woman who had been injured in her driveway in the 1100 block of Grove Street.
When they arrived, officers determined that Elijah Walker, 24, had wounded the woman by walking up behind her and shooting her one time in the back of the head, according to the department.
The woman was taken to North Baldwin Infirmary in Bay Minette. Police said she is in stable condition.
Investigators said the shooting was the result of a dispute between Walker and the woman that had gone on for most of the previous day. Police said the two have known each other for many years. The department has not released the nature of their relationship or what the dispute was about.
Case at a glance
- When: About 2:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 28, 2026
- Where: A driveway in the 1100 block of Grove Street, Bay Minette
- Victim: A 51-year-old woman, shot once in the back of the head; in stable condition at North Baldwin Infirmary
- Accused: Elijah Walker, 24
- Charge: Attempted murder
- Custody: Baldwin County Corrections Center, awaiting arraignment and bond hearings
- Status: Investigation ongoing
Charged and jailed
Walker was charged with attempted murder and booked into the Baldwin County Corrections Center, where he awaits arraignment and bond hearings, police said. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
In Alabama, attempted murder is a Class A felony, the most serious category of felony under state law. A conviction on a Class A felony carries a potential prison sentence of 10 years to life. If a firearm is used in the commission of a Class A felony, Alabama law sets a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years.
Because of the seriousness of the charge, a judge will decide at a bond hearing whether Walker can be released while his case is pending and, if so, under what conditions. Under Alabama’s constitution, judges may deny bail in certain cases involving serious violent felonies after a hearing.
Investigation continues
The Bay Minette Police Department said the investigation is still ongoing. Police have not said whether any weapon was recovered, whether there were witnesses or whether anyone else was present at the time of the shooting.
Anyone with information that could help investigators is encouraged to contact the Bay Minette Police Department.
A remarkable survival
Gunshot wounds to the head are frequently fatal, and the woman’s stable condition after being shot at close range is notable. Medical outcomes for head wounds vary widely depending on the path of the bullet and how quickly a victim receives emergency care. The shooting happened only a few miles from North Baldwin Infirmary, the hospital that serves Bay Minette and much of north Baldwin County.
Police have not released any details about the woman’s injuries beyond her condition.
When disputes escalate
Police said the shooting grew out of an argument that stretched across most of the previous day between two people who had known each other for years. Violence prevention advocates say long-running conflicts between people who know each other, including family members, partners and longtime acquaintances, are among the most common settings for serious violence.
Anyone who feels threatened by someone they know should call 911 in an emergency. Advocates can also help with safety planning, protection orders and emergency shelter. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-799-7233 or by texting START to 88788, and it can connect callers with local resources in Baldwin County.
About Bay Minette
Bay Minette is the county seat of Baldwin County, located in the northern part of the county along U.S. Highway 31 and near Interstate 65. Grove Street runs through a residential area of the city. The Bay Minette Police Department serves the city, while the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office operates the Baldwin County Corrections Center, which houses people awaiting court proceedings.
What happens next
Walker is expected to appear for arraignment, where the charge will be formally read, and for a bond hearing. As a felony, the case will eventually go before a Baldwin County grand jury, which will decide whether to return an indictment.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available from the Bay Minette Police Department and the courts.