Cordova SWAT officer shot at wife’s surprise birthday party

An off-duty Alabama lawman was seriously wounded after being struck by gunfire while attending his wife’s birthday party on Saturday night.

25-year-old Cordova Police officer Shelby Luttrell had finished celebrating his son’s second birthday and was hosting his wife’s surprise party at his apartment when an acquaintance showed up at the party, becoming belligerent and getting into a struggle with Luttrell.

Unfortunately for Luttrell, he was unarmed at the time of the struggle and his assailant shot him in the stomach and arm before fleeing the scene.

The shooting took place at around 11PM at the High Forest Apartments in Jasper. Police have not revealed the name of the suspect.

While rescue workers wanted to secure a aerovac for Luttrell, high winds would not permit helicopter crews to make the flight. Forced to take the slow route, Luttrell was taken by ambulance and underwent surgery 41 miles away at the University of Alabama- Birmingham hospital.

Luttrell had previously been a full-time Cordova officer but had cut his hours into part-time status in order to pursue a job in the private sector. He is still a member of the SWAT team and is one of the agency’s firearms instructors.

“It was a full day of festivities that ended in tragedy. Everybody was overwhelmed,” CPD spokesman T.J. Armstrong said.

According to Al.com, Luttrell is expected to make a full recovery. In the meantime, Armstrong said that the lawman and his family are well taken care of by his community.

“He’s a family man, loyal, a good friend to everybody,” Armstrong said.

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