A man shot to death by Alabama police had just dropped his son off at school, was acting belligerent and fired at an officer after a brief chase, authorities announced Thursday.
The slain man has been identified as Ian Daniel Sullivan. He was 54 and lived in Boaz.
He was fatally shot in the driveway of his home after firing on a Sardis police officer.
Etowah County Sheriff Jonathon Horton, Sardis Police Chief Will Alexander and Etowah County Schools Superintendent Alan Cosby held a news briefing Thursday to release more details about Wednesday’s fatal shooting.
The ordeal began shortly before 7:30 a.m. when a Sardis police officer was dispatched to Sardis Middle School on a report of a disturbance in the carpool line.
The caller reported that Sullivan was driving the wrong way in the line. The principal spoke with Sullivan who seemed to be “disorderly” and was using profanity, Horton said.
When the officer arrived, Sullivan was still in his vehicle and the two spoke for nearly nine minutes.
The officer, Horton said, was trying to convince Sullivan to get out of the vehicle so that he could ensure that Sullivan wasn’t intoxicated and safe to drive home. He could smell alcohol, Alexander said.
Sullivan lived about three miles from the school, and still had to drive past the high school to get home.
Sullivan drove off from the school at 7:34 a.m., according to body camera footage, and drove to his home on Lawson Gap Road with the officer in pursuit.
He parked at 7:41 a.m., Horton said.
“He exited the driver’s side of the vehicle and began driving a handgun at the officer from the Sardis Police Department,’’ Horton said. “Without choice, the Sardis police officer began to defend himself by drawing his weapon and firing back.”
By 7:42 a.m., the “firefight” ended, and Sullivan was eventually pronounced dead on the scene, despite life-saving measures taken by the officer and his backup.
No officers were injured. The officer’s patrol vehicle was heavily damaged and disabled from Sullivan’s shots, Horton said.
The Etowah County Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville State Center for Applied Forensic Science were brought in to lead the investigation.
“It’s unfortunate that these events occurred the way they did,’’ the sheriff said, “but unfortunately if you pull a weapon and fire it at someone or a law enforcement officer, the end result should be that you’re fired back at.”
The incident at Sardis Middle School caused no injuries, disruptions, or danger to any students or staff. School activities continued as normal.
Horton said Sullivan did not have any criminal history, and no prior dealings with school officials.
“None of us get up everyday and want something like to happen,’’ Horton said. “This particular officer had just gone through training to prepare for an event like this.”
“Obviously he relied on that training and skills,’’ Horton said, “and I truly believe from what I’ve seen, it’s what allowed him to survive.”
Alexander said the officer is on paid leave and they will provide him with counseling.
