Fatal Shooting Leaves One Pike County Woman Dead

An early morning shooting leaves a Pike County woman dead in her home and one man in custody.

The victim-48-year-old Addie Stephens was shot by 24-year-old James Michael Swithers. Swithers is from the St. Clair area of northern Alabama. He had been living in California and was in Pike County visiting his mother and sister. After arriving, Swithers had no place to stay and was offered to temporarily stay at Stephens’ home by another male already residing with Stephens. After shooting Stephens, Swithers barricaded himself in the home.

“At 6:30 we established communication with him. We were able to talk with him and he came out of the house and surrendered to law enforcement,” says Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas.

Swithers is now in the Pike County Jail. Officers are still investigating the shooting.