DALE COUNTY, Ala. (WDNews) — A 22-year-old Ariton man has been charged with attempted murder after a Saturday afternoon shooting in Dale County left one man critically injured.
According to the Dale County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were first dispatched around 3:41 p.m. to a reported injury crash on Dale County Road 11 near U.S. Highway 231. When deputies arrived, they found a man standing outside a vehicle with no visible injuries.
Just minutes later, 911 received a second call reporting another crash on Dale County Road 11 near Alabama Highway 51. When deputies arrived, they discovered a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body, including his head.
Deputies immediately began life-saving measures until Ariton Fire and Rescue arrived. The victim was transported to a landing zone, where Haynes LifeFlight flew him to a local hospital. He remains in critical but stable condition.
Investigators identified the suspect as Jacorian Martae Griffin, 22, of Ariton. He was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle. Griffin is being held without bond in the Dale County Jail.
Investigators said witnesses provided a description of the suspect’s vehicle and its direction of travel. Evidence collected by crime scene investigators linked the initial crash scene to the location of the shooting.
Authorities believe the shooting followed a confrontation between the occupants of two vehicles traveling on the roadway. While the incident has been described as a suspected road rage case, investigators have not confirmed a motive and said the investigation remains ongoing.
Sheriff Mason Bynum said the charges could be upgraded if the victim dies from his injuries.
