WAFF.com: North Alabama News, Radar, Weather, Sports and Jobs-Victim's family speaks out about Anderson shooting
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LEXINGTON, AL (WAFF) - Lauderdale County authorities are investigating the shooting death of a man over the weekend to see if self-defense was the motive, but the family of the victim disputes that claim.
The shooting happened on Lauderdale County Road 656 in the community of Anderson on Saturday, where investigators said 40-year-old Homer Wood, Jr. was shot and killed by Barry Swan. Swan has not been arrested.
Wood's nephew, Harley Coyer, was a witness to the shooting.
"[Swan] had called my uncle on his telephone," said Coyer. "My uncle wanted to borrow a saw from him. He told him to come pick it up."
Coyer said when they got to Swan's house, his wife started to attack him with a baseball bat.
"I snatched the baseball bat from her," Coyer said. "When I snatched it from her, he pointed the gun at me. My uncle opened his car door, took two steps out of his car door and the man shot him."
Coyer said after the shot was fired, he ran to his father's house to call 911. He said Swan fired shots at him also.
Coyer told WAFF 48 News that he couldn't believe investigators would consider the shooting self-defense.
"You don't want to hear my reaction," he said. "I want the man arrested."
Wood leaves behind four children, and his girlfriend is pregnant with his fifth child. His oldest daughter came from Indiana after hearing of the shooting.
"I was a daddy's girl all my life," said Veronnica Wood, the victim's daughter, "Didn't take much to get what I wanted. He was always busy, always doing something."
Wood's family just wants his story to be heard. They feel he gave his life for his nephew, and just want justice for a life cut short.
"We just want the truth to be told," said Sheri Mcleese, Wood's sister, "He deserves it."
Wood had only been in Lauderdale County for about a year. He was originally from Indiana. His family plans to have funeral services in Indiana.
The shooting is still under investigation, and most likely will be presented in a grand jury.
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