Alabama resident Shannon Heath Bell, 31. has been indicted on murder charges in the December 2 shooting death of 36-year-old Donna Loraine Martin. The victim was shot in Escambia County last year in what Bell claimed was a “hunting accident.”
According to U.S.News, Bell told authorities he and Martin struggled over the gun while hunting at night. Bell told authorities he was trying to shoot a deer and there was a struggle for the gun. The gun went off and Martin was struck by a bullet.
North Escambia reported that around 6:30 p.m. on December 2, authorities received a call about a gunshot victim. The caller requested medical assistance, and first responders arrived to find Martin suffering from a gunshot wound to her side. They transported her to a local hospital where she later died during surgery.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Game & Fish Division investigated the original incident which led to Bell’s arrest for manslaughter, hunting at night, hunting from a motor vehicle, hunting from a public road and hunting without a permit according to AL.com.
However, further investigation uncovered additional evidence which was turned over to the grand jury. Upon consideration of the evidence, the grand jury handed down an indictment for murder and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office re-arrested Bell May 8.
Bell remains in the Escambia County Detention Center on $150,000 bond.
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