Anniston AL – On March 25, 2023, at approximately 11:00 am an unidentified person located a shooting victim on the 3200 block of Alexandria Rd in Anniston. The person that wished to remain anonymous stated, “We rode by and the whole creek was red and stood out as we slowed down to see what was making the creek that color, we saw his body. I thought he’d been hit by a car until [a neighbor] said he’d heard him [victim] beg someone not to do this and heard two pops and gone. He didn’t know anyone had actually been shot.”
Anniston Police officers arrived and located the victims later identified as, Richard Austin Ward, 27, of Anniston, was dead at the scene with a gunshot wound. The female victim was located within two blocks of Ward, at 33rd street and Stevens Street. The victim, Laura Jean Thornton, 55, of Anniston, was still breathing, and medical units provided emergency medical attention as they awaited an medivac to have her transported to UAB. Ms. Thornton is in critical condition according to the press release issued by the Anniston Police Department.
Sergeant Jason Hawkins stated that “The Anniston Police Department believes these two incidents are related.” The investigation is still ongoing, and no arrests have been made at this time. If you have any information related to this case, please contact the Investigative Division of the Anniston Police Department at (256) 240-4000.
