More details released after officer kills Etowah County man in shooting

ETOWAH COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) — The Etowah County Sheriff’s Office discussed an officer-involved shooting investigation during a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Sheriff Jonathon Horton said a Sardis town police officer was called to the town’s middle school around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

School officials reported that a student’s father was observed driving the wrong way out of the car drop-off line. The man reacted aggressively when confronted by the principal.

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The officer spoke for several minutes with the man, who was in his car on school property. He was ordered to exit the vehicle because the officer reportedly smelled alcohol on him. The man refused and drove to his home on Lawson Gap Road while the officer pursued him.

After parking on his property, the man got out of the car and began firing a handgun at the officer. The officer returned fire and the man was shot and pronounced dead at the scene.

Sheriff Horton confirmed the suspect’s identity as Ian Daniel Sullivan, 54, of Boaz. He had no prior criminal record or hostile interactions with school officials.

The officer was uninjured in the shooting and is on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues.

You can watch the full press conference in the video player above.

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