Retired Alabama Deputy Killed in Shooting Recalled Fondly

CAMDEN, ALA.—Madison “Skip” Nicholson retired from his occupation arsenic a deputy with the Wilcox County Sheriff’s Department a mates years ago, but helium ne'er truly left. He was inactive astir the bureau galore days, partially due to the fact that helium was serving arsenic a constable and serving ineligible documents successful the agrarian westbound Alabama county.

Nicholson, 78, was fatally wounded and different lawman was changeable successful a confrontation that near a fishy dormant Wednesday day successful tiny Yellow Bluff, a municipality astir 90 miles (about 144 kilometers) southwest of Montgomery. Nicholson died successful the enactment of duty, authorities constabulary said.

A 40-year seasoned of instrumentality enforcement, Nicholson was some well-known and fashionable astir Wilcox County, and his decease deed the assemblage of astir 10,000 hard.

“He was 1 of the purest, kindest, genuine radical you volition ever know,” country personage James “Big Daddy” Lawler wrote connected his Facebook page, which promotes hunting, fishing, and different outdoors activities successful the region.

District Attorney Michael Jackson said Nicholson retired successful 2019 but helium precocious saw him successful uniform. “He retired but helium didn’t truly discontinue is simply a bully mode to enactment it,” Jackson said Thursday.

The shooting occurred portion deputies answered a telephone astir a home disturbance, officials said. A pistillate ran retired of a home, and a antheral who was pursuing her fired shots, Jackson said.

While Nicholson was changeable successful the cervix and died aft being taken to a infirmary successful Pensacola, Florida, by chopper ambulance, the different serviceman was deed successful the limb and should recover, Jackson said. The authorities lawyer general’s bureau identified the wounded serviceman arsenic Trenton Gulley, the main lawman successful Wilcox County.

An probe showed Gulley changeable the fishy identified arsenic Billy Bizzell, 52, Jackson said.

Pine Hill Police Chief NiKisha Gailes said she was astatine the country and spoke to Nicholson earlier the chopper lifted off. “So atrocious Skip! I volition ne'er hide the mode you squeezed my manus erstwhile you heard maine saying you were gonna marque it,” she said successful a tribute posted connected Facebook.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, who is from Wilcox County, issued a connection honoring Nicholson. The shooting was different reminder of the sacrifice of instrumentality enforcement officers, she said.

“My prayers spell retired to his household and colleagues,” said Ivey.