Police have officially charged two men with attempted murder after an Alabama Highway Patrol officer was wounded in a shootout on Saturday evening. Zachary Taylor Wood, 23, and Dillon Scott Rafsky, 21, are in custody at Geneva County jail after shooting State Trooper Lee Phillips during a routine traffic stop at around 5:30 p.m.
Authorities say Phillips pulled over a Toyota for a traffic violation when the vehicle suddenly came to an abrupt stop and a suspect opened fire on Phillips. One of the suspects was taken into custody while the other suspect fled into the woods before being captured a short time later. Trooper Phillips suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Flowers Hospital where he is in stable condition.
The two suspects were also taken to local hospitals where they were treated for gunshot wounds. The Alabama Bureau of Investigation is still investigating this matter.
The sentence for attempted murder, a class A felony, carries a range of 10 years to life in prison. In the state of Alabama, the charge of attempted murder requires the following to have taken place:
- The suspect(s) took at least one direct step toward killing someone else
- The suspect(s) intended to either kill the person or seriously harm them.
If you or someone you know has been charged with attempted murder, it is important that you contact an experienced criminal attorney to handle your case. The attorneys of Boles Holmes White are experienced in a variety of legal matters and have a history of success in the courtroom. Call to schedule a consultation today.
