DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Searching for Suspect in Attempted Murder of Deputy
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect accused of attempted murder after an incident that occurred during a traffic stop on Tuesday, October 29.
According to Sheriff Nick Welden, a deputy attempted to stop a white van driven by 50-year-old Gary Jody Childers, who had an active warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm. When the deputy activated his blue lights, the vehicle initially appeared to stop, but then accelerated.
Authorities said Childers then pointed a handgun out of the window and fired multiple shots at the deputy, striking the patrol vehicle. The pursuit ended when Childers crashed into a utility pole and fled the scene on foot.
As of Thursday, Childers had not been located and remains wanted on an active warrant for attempted murder.
Anyone with information about Childers’ whereabouts is urged to contact Investigator Weston Fortner with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office at 256-899-2225 or by email at wfortner@dekalbcountysheriff.org
https://weisradio.com/2025/09/23/dekalb-county-drugs-and-major-crimes-unit-update/
