A police detective from Alabama was fatally shot outside her home early on Monday in what appears to be a domestic violence-related incident, the City of Montgomery said in a news release.
A suspect has been arrested in the shooting death of 27-year-old Tanisha Pughsley—who worked as a detective with the Montgomery Police Department (MPD) and was off-duty at the time of the shooting, police said.
The alleged shooter, 24-year-old Brandon Deshawn Webster, is reportedly Pughsley’s ex-boyfriend and had been ordered by a court to stay away from her, according to multiple reports.
Webster has been charged with capital murder during a burglary in the killing of Pughsley. He also was charged with attempted murder for shooting at another man. He is being held without bond in the Montgomery County Detention Facility, AL.com reported.
Authorities said fire medics and officials with the MPD responded to an emergency call about a shooting around 2:15 a.m. on Overview Drive in Montgomery County, police said.
“At the scene, contact was made with an adult female victim, 27, who sustained a fatal gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased on scene,” the police release stated.
Recently Granted a Restraining Order
Pughsley filed a protection order in late May against Webster after he allegedly went to her home and hit her multiple times on the head while she was holding her infant godchild, causing her to drop the baby.
“Brandon came to my residence and hit me in the side of my head with an open hand two times while I was holding my 5-month-old Godchild,” Pughsley wrote. “His actions caused me to drop the infant.”
“Although Brandon has moved out of the residence, he continues to show up and physically assault me,” she continued. “He sends threatening text messages and once he is blocked, he continues to call my phone private.”
A judge granted the protection order in June, the outlet reported, citing court records.
“Our entire community today mourns the death of one of our own, Tanisha Pughsley,” said Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed in a statement.
“Detective Pughsley answered the call to serve, defend and protect our city,” he continued. “We stand today with her family, friends, colleagues and all who loved her, praying for comfort, peace and healing during this tragic time.”
Pughsley has been employed with the MPD force since 2016 and was a criminal justice graduate at the Alabama State University, AL.com reported.
The court records did not provide any information on whether Webster has a defense attorney who could speak on his behalf.
