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Deatsville man faces murder charges

By Donna Sparks - Herald Staff Writer
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The Elmore County Sheriff’s Department has charged a Deatsville man with murder after he shot one of his tenants Wednesday night, Jan. 24.

Tommy Joe Swearingen, 49, of 4425 Hwy. 143 was arrested for the murder of Travis Smith, 26, of 4427 Hwy. 143, and has been released on a $50,000 bond.

The call came into the county 9-11 center at 7:51 p.m. Wednesday.

According to Sheriff Bill Franklin, Smith was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife and went next door to Swearingen’s home to ask for help.

“Mr. Swearingen told him to leave several times and he refused,” Franklin said. “When Mr. Smith attempted to strike Mr. Swearingen, he shot Smith in the upper left side of his chest.”

Smith was shot with a semi-automatic .45-caliber handgun, Chief Deputy Ricky Lowery said.

Problems had existed between the landlord and tenant during the past over an eviction, but it is unclear at this time if this came into play during this incident, Lowery stated.

“This may have been a case of domestic violence turning into a murder,” Franklin said. “There may have been extenuating circumstances that led to this shooting.”

Smith was treated on the scene by paramedics and was transported by Haynes Ambulance to the Elmore Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Department are currently investigating the shooting.

“The case will be presented to the Elmore County Grand Jury in April,” Lowery said.

This is the first murder reported in Elmore County for 2007. The department investigated three murders during 2006.

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