Etowah County Man Arrested Following Shooting Incident
ETOWAH COUNTY — An Etowah County man has been arrested and charged with Assault in the First Degree following a shooting on Thursday evening, according to Sheriff Jonathon Horton.
Joseph Wayne Hale was taken into custody after deputies with the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a possible shooting at 94 Suburban Drive at approximately 7:36 p.m. on February 12, 2026 in the Piedmont/Ball Play area just off of highway 278.
Upon arrival, deputies found an adult male on the front porch of a residence suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim told authorities that the shooter was inside a home across the street. Deputies immediately contacted Hale at the identified residence, detaining him and transporting him to the Investigations Office for questioning.
Following the investigation, Hale was confirmed as the offender and formally charged with Assault in the First Degree. The victim was airlifted to UAB Hospital due to the unknown extent of his injuries.
Hale was booked into the Etowah County Detention Center, where he remains held pending bond.
Sheriff Horton praised the quick response of deputies and first responders, stating, “Violent acts like this have no place in our community. I am proud of the swift response by our deputies and first responders in quickly locating the suspect and securing the scene and treating the victim. We will continue to work diligently to hold offenders accountable and keep the citizens of Etowah County safe.”
