A 49-year-old Theodore man is in the Mobile County Metro Jail after police say he shot another man during an argument at a home on Dauphin Island Parkway, leaving the victim with life-threatening injuries.
Robert Faircloth was arrested after Mobile police officers were called to the 9200 block of Dauphin Island Parkway around 6:50 p.m. Thursday. When officers arrived, they found a male victim suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Investigators determined the shooting happened during an argument at the home, and officers arrested Faircloth at the scene. He was booked into Mobile County Metro Jail and charged with first-degree assault.
What first-degree assault means
Under Alabama law, a person commits first-degree assault by intentionally causing serious physical injury to another person, by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, or in several other circumstances defined by statute. The charge is a Class B felony, punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $30,000.
Prosecutors in Mobile County evaluate several factors when deciding whether to pursue assault or attempted murder charges in shooting cases, including the number of shots fired, where the victim was struck, statements made during the incident and the defendant’s criminal history. Charges can be upgraded as evidence develops or as the victim’s condition becomes clear.
A corridor that sees its share of violence
Dauphin Island Parkway — locals call it “the DIP” — runs south from downtown Mobile through a string of neighborhoods toward the coast, and the 9200 block sits in the corridor’s southern reaches near Theodore. The corridor has seen its share of violent incidents over the years, and Mobile police regularly allocate additional patrol resources to the area during summer months, when calls for service historically climb.
Arguments that escalate to gunfire are among the most common scenarios in Mobile’s non-fatal shooting cases. Police officials have repeatedly urged residents to walk away from confrontations and call police instead, noting that a moment of anger with a firearm nearby too often becomes a hospital visit or a homicide case.
The investigation continues
Police have not released the victim’s name or condition beyond describing the injuries as life-threatening, and no update on the victim’s status was available as of the arrest. Detectives will continue to gather witness statements and evidence from the scene, and additional charges are possible depending on what the investigation finds.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Mobile CrimeStoppers, and tips that lead to an arrest may qualify for a cash reward.
Faircloth is presumed innocent, and the charges against him are accusations. He will have an initial appearance in Mobile County District Court, where a judge will address bond and set the case for further proceedings.