Killer Survives Suicide By Drug Overdose

"CULLMAN, AL — The Cullman County Sheriff's Department is investigating the shooting death of a woman in the Berlin community. Deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting on 4141 US 278 East on Sunday around 1 p.m.

"When deputies arrived on the scene, they discovered a 32-year-old woman had been shot. The sheriff's office identified her as Britni Lynn Champagne.

"Champagne was transported to Cullman Regional Medical Center and airlifted to Huntsville Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The sheriff's office says she died from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

"Sheriff Mike Rainey said the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle after the shooting. A Cullman aviation officer spotted the suspect's unoccupied vehicle in a wooded area near the Mulberry River south of Hollypond.

"On Monday, the sheriff's office identified the suspect as Patrick Wesley Stallings, 33.

"Stallings was located a couple of hunderd yards away hiding in a creek. Authorities say he overdosed on narcotics in a suicide attempt as he was being taken into custody. Deputies had the suspect transported to Cullman Regional Medical Center. His condition is not known at this time.

"He is being held in connection to the shooting."

From WBRC...