According to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, an Alabama man has been arrested following a deadly shooting spree in the state that killed one person and injured four others.
Sheriff Mike Granthum told WSFA 12 News that the suspect, 42-year-old Lorenzo Edwards, had personal links to two of the victims, while the rest were chosen at random.
“He wanted to kill,” Granthum stated bluntly, explaining that Edwards’ violent rampage began with an attack on his young son and ex-wife.
The violence broke out on Wednesday evening (March 19), when Edwards shot his ex-wife in the face and his 14-year-old son in the head. Authorities went to the initial crime site on Summerfield Road around 6:45 p.m. after receiving reports of multiple gunshot victims.
Despite her injuries, the ex-wife was able to identify her attacker to police while being transported into an ambulance, alerting them that Edwards was likely coming to their home on Alabama Highway 219.
By then, Edwards had escaped, armed and ready to carry out more bloodshed. A gunshot nearly killed his third victim, a man. However, Edwards drove him over before shifting his focus to a fourth victim, a woman.
“The gun jammed when he tried to shoot her,” Granthum explained. “So he started beating her in the back of the head with the pistol.”
The fifth and final fatality was an older woman who had been outside, conversing on her phone. Edwards allegedly savagely beat her after suspecting she was contacting the police.
“He took an engine block from the back of his car and started striking her with it,” the sheriff described. “This was a 70-year-old woman. She had no way to defend herself.” Medics were called to assist the elderly woman, but she later died of her injuries at a local hospital.
According to Alabama Media News, Edwards then attempted to break into a nearby trailer home, but his rampage was short-lived.
Deputies responding to allegations of many gunshot victims on Highway 219 quickly spotted Edwards, who was carrying two loaded pistols. Despite repeated warnings, he first refused to surrender. He eventually complied, and authorities quickly hauled him into prison.
Sheriff Granthum believes Edwards would have continued his killing spree if deputies had not intervened.
“He had a taste for blood, and he was ready to kill more,” Granthum said, referencing the suspect’s fully loaded weapons. Court documents confirm Edwards was carrying a .38 revolver and a .45 caliber handgun at the time of his arrest.
According to WAKA 8 News, after his confession, Edwards informed detectives that he was “glad” to be caught because he would rather not hurt anyone else. When questioned for a reason, he stated that he was weary of everyone picking on him and had family issues.
Edwards is now facing several counts, including murder and attempted murder. Aniah’s Law in Alabama allows for his detention without bond.
