Prichard police investigated a fatal home invasion in October 2010 after intruders allegedly entered a Stile Avenue residence while posing as federal agents.
Officers responded early on a Wednesday morning to a report of a shooting in the 1700 block of Stile Avenue. Inside the home, they found a 31-year-old man with a fatal gunshot wound to the torso. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
Investigators’ account
Police said three men dressed in black and with their faces covered forced their way into the residence. According to investigators, the intruders identified themselves as agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives before searching the home for money.
Authorities said the suspects then shot the victim and left with a flat-screen television. Other people were inside the house during the invasion but were not physically injured, according to the initial police report.
Request for information
Investigators asked anyone with information about the crime to contact the Prichard Police Department. The article records the facts released during the initial investigation and does not identify suspects or describe a later arrest, charge or court result.
The case illustrated the particular danger of criminals impersonating law-enforcement officers, a tactic that can create confusion and delay a victim’s ability to recognize a threat. It also prompted a public appeal for information as investigators worked to identify the people involved.
This historical report is based on the Prichard Police Department’s statements at the time. It distinguishes those investigative statements from any final findings that may have emerged later.