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Night hunting leads to shooting, arrests

By Robyn McGlohn - bio | email

RUSSELLVILLE, AL (WAFF) - A night of deer hunting ended with two men under arrest for a shooting where a third hunter was wounded.

Police in Franklin County tell WAFF 48 News that one of the suspects in custody claimed to be a Federal ICE agent from another state.

"Everyone knows from this area, that's one the areas you can see deer at night," said Franklin County Sheriff Larry Plott.

He said night hunting is popular, but dangerous. Monday it landed 4 men in trouble and one in the hospital.

Wildlife Game and Fishery Diversion Captain Johnny Johnson said around 10:30 Monday night, Jose Colon, Luis Alay, Carlos Garcia and Lidio Pasillas were night hunting on Highway 187.

The homeowner confronted them and the hunters left in a hurry.

That's when Johnson said a single shot was fired, striking Colon.

"For some reason, one of the subjects accidentally discharged a high power rifle hitting one of the subjects in the back of the truck in the thigh," Johnson explained.

"Bullet fragmented upon impact to the femur bone and did extensive damage to his leg, the bullet continued on through the truck lodging in the door," he continued.

The supposed shooter, Johnson said, is Lidio Pasillas who told authorities on the scene he was an ICE agent from Illinois.

Pasillas and Garcia are charged with four misdemeanors: hunting at night, hunting without a written permit on private property, hunting from a public road and hunting with the aide of a motor vehicle.

Johnson said charges are pending on Colon and Alay.

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