Huntsville city council approves funds to defend officer in fatal shooting

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August 13, 2018

An Alabama city has approved taxpayer funds to pay legal expenses for a police officer charged in the death of an armed man police say was suicidal.

AL.com reports the Huntsville City Council voted 4-0 Thursday to cover the defense of 25-year-old Huntsville Police Officer William Darby.Darby was indicted Aug. 3 on a murder charge in the shooting of 49-year-old Jeffrey Parker.

Police say Darby shot Parker after responding April 3 to a report of an armed, suicidal man.

Police say Parker didn’t follow commands to drop his weapon.

The department cleared Darby of wrongdoing, but Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussard expressed concerns and sent the case to a grand jury.

The council also voted to cap initial defense expenses to $75,000.

Darby is on paid administrative leave.
(Associated Press, copyright 2018)

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