Frederick Earl Hight

Age : 26

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 02/26/2021

Location : 2500 Coon Creek Road

City : Empire

County : Walker

State : Alabama

Agency : Walker County Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during domestic disturbance response

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 02/26/2021, Walker County sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence on Coon Creek Road in Empire. Deputies entered the home and encountered 26-year-old Frederick Earl Hight inside.
During the encounter, a physical struggle occurred between Hight and a deputy. The deputy fired his weapon, striking Hight. He died from gunshot wounds. The shooting occurred inside the home and in the presence of Hight’s father.
Frederick Earl Hight’s sister publicly disputed the sheriff’s narrative and questioned the necessity of the shooting. She stated that her brother struggled with mental illness and was not a violent person. She said he needed help, not lethal force. In 2024, Hight’s family reached a settlement in a federal wrongful-death lawsuit filed against Walker County and the deputy.
Authorities did not publicly release the name of the deputy who fired.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2021/02/it-just-doesnt-seem-right-sister-devastated-by-brothers-shooting-death-by-walker-county-deputy.html
https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2024/08/family-of-man-shot-dead-by-walker-county-sheriffs-deputy-settles-federal-wrongful-death-lawsuit.html