Attempted Murder/Suicide Leaves Woman Paralyzed

"TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa authorities say a woman was paralyzed after her boyfriend fired shots at her, then turned the gun on himself.

"Officials believe the overnight shooting may have been the result of a bad breakup between the suspect, 31-year-old Jason Powell, and his girlfriend.

"The girlfriend, a 34-year-old woman, ran to a neighbor's house for help, but investigators said that didn't stop Powell from shooting her in the back.

"`She began beating on the door, attempting to get away from him. He followed her over there. When she got inside, the neighbor opened the door to her frantic screams,` Lt. Kip Hart with the Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Unit said.

"The woman ran from the home she shared with Powell in the Cedar Knoll subdivision to a house next door. The neighbor said only a few seconds after she came inside, Powell fired shots through the front door.

"One of the bullets struck the woman in the back. Soon after, Powell shot himself in the head.

"The Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Unit got to the scene of the shooting around 1 a.m. Monday, July 8 and found Powell's body in the yard. He was transported to DCH where he later died.

"The female victim was also taken to DCH with serious, life-threatening injuries. She is in critical condition, but expected to survive. It is unclear if her paralysis is permanent."

From WBRC...