On the evening of Wednesday, December 7, 2022, officers from the Blount County Sheriff’s Office and the Hayden Police Department responded to a welfare check at a residence on Dogwood Lane in Hayden, Alabama after concerns a woman — later identified as 34-year-old Stephen Bentley’s aunt — was being held against her will and had been assaulted. Officers first met Bentley at the back door; his aunt then emerged with visible head injuries. Bentley returned holding a gun behind his back and, according to body camera footage, aimed the weapon toward his aunt while repeatedly telling officers to kill him.

Body camera shows officers ordering Bentley to drop the gun on at least six occasions. When he did not comply, a Hayden police officer and a Blount County deputy fired their weapons; it is unclear how many rounds were discharged. Officers cleared the house and began rendering aid to Bentley, but radio attempts to summon an ambulance were unsuccessful. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency was called to investigate, and the Blount County Sheriff stated he believed the officers’ actions saved their lives and Bentley’s aunt’s life.

Are there witnesses or additional details about the sequence inside the house that anyone can share?