Nathan Wilkins faces charges in two separate shootings

Tuscaloosa Police have identified and charged Nathan Van Wilkins, 44, in connection to the Copper Top Bar shooting early Tuesday morning as well as a shooting in Northport Monday evening.

Once all warrants are obtained for both shootings, Wilkins will face 18 counts of attempted murder, one count of shooting into an occupied building and one count of shooting into an occupied dwelling.

For the Northport shooting:

• One count of attempted murder
• One count of shooting into an occupied dwelling

For the Copper Top Bar shooting:

• 17 counts of attempted murder
• One count of shooting into an occupied building

Wilkins bond will total $2 million and he remains in custody at the Tuscaloosa County Jail.

Wilkins was apprehended in Jasper late Tuesday morning after entering a FedEx store and ultimately surrendering to police. The store owner, Ken Barfield, told FOX6 News that he called 9-1-1 after Wilkins confessed to him that he was the shooter.

Jasper Police Captain Larry Cantrell told FOX6 News that Wilkins told his investigators that he wanted to be shot and killed this morning by Tuscaloosa Police.

Seventeen people were injured in the shooting at the Copper Top Bar around 1 a.m. Tuesday, including four people with ties to the University. DCH officials have told FOX6 that only five people were actually hit by bullets and they remain in the hospital. The remaining victims were injured by debris.

Of the five victims that remain at DCH, one is in critical condition, one in serious condition, and the remaining three are in fair condition.

At approximately 11:40 p.m. Monday, Northport police officers responded to a shots fired call in the 4100 block of 4th Ave. E. Officers reported that the victim heard a knock at the door and when he opened it, Wilkins began shooting.

The 30-year-old male victim was taken to DCH for treatment of gunshot wounds. Officers recovered shell casings and matched them to casings collected at the scene of the Copper Top Bar shooting.

Tuscaloosa and Northport police investigators are also trying to determine whether Wilkins had any role in a fire set at Capstone Drilling in Brookwood. FOX6 News has learned that Wilkins formerly worked there. In an interview on Good Day Alabama, Tuscaloosa Sheriff Ted Sexton said he believed Wilkins was motivated in the crimes by the loss of his job.

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