3 overnight shootings investigated in Tuscaloosa County

Tuscaloosa officials investigated three unrelated shootings in the county Tuesday night. So far two men have been charged with attempted murder and another suspect is at large.

In one shooting, an 18-year-old male reportedly shot himself in the buttocks. The victim told Northport police that he was playing with a friend's gun in the kitchen, pointed it behind him and accidentally pulled the trigger, the sheriff's office said. He suffered a single gunshot wound to his buttocks.

The shooting happened in the 2000 block of 10th Street in Northport. The victim went to DCH for treatment to his non-life-threatening injury. The sheriff's office says the case has been determined an accidental shooting and is closed.

Also on Tuesday night, a 44-year-old man was allegedly shot twice by a suspect during an altercation in the 2000 block of Reese Blvd. The suspect, identified as Otis Hurst, turned himself in to Tuscaloosa police shortly after the shooting. Homicide investigators interviewed Hurst and other witnesses to the shooting.

Hurst has been charged with attempted murder and booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail. The victim, who has not been identified, was taken to UAB for surgery. There is no word on his condition.

At approximately 9:17 p.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to a report of a 24-year-old man who had been shot once in the leg. The victim was taken to DCH for treatment and admitted to the hospital for observation, the sheriff's office says.

Investigators spoke with the victim and witnesses to the shooting and determined that two suspects shot at the victim. One suspect was arrested at the scene and the other is still at large.

The suspects are identified as Michael Darnell Griffin, 28, and Christopher Bush, 29. The victim told investigators that Griffin fired one round at the victim and Bush fired two rounds. One of the bullets struck the victim in the leg.

Officers took Griffin into custody in the area where the shooting occurred, the Branscomb Apartments on 60th Street. He has been charged with attempted murder and was taken to the Tuscaloosa County Jail. He is being held on a $60,000 bond the sheriff's office states.

Bush is still at large. He has outstanding warrants for his arrest.

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