Phenix City man stable after being shot by deputy who thought pellet gun was real gun
Phenix CITY, Ala. (WRBL) — A Phenix City man is recovering in stable condition after being shot by a Lee County deputy on Monday night in an incident where deputies say they mistook a pellet gun for a real gun.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call around 9:10 PM on November 4 from a man in the 100 block of Lee Rd. 482, who allegedly said he intended to take his own life. The caller hung up without providing additional information, prompting deputies to respond to the scene to ensure his safety.
Upon arrival, deputies met a concerned neighbor who reported a man named "Wesley" had been seen walking around his home with a handgun. A short time later, deputies observed the individual outside, holding a gun to his head and threatening to end his life. In response, Lee County's trained crisis negotiators were called to the scene.
For more than 90 minutes, deputies and negotiators attempted to calm the situation and persuade the man to surrender. However, the standoff escalated when deputies said he aimed a gun at law enforcement officers. Investigators say deputies, fearing for their safety, fired on the individual, hitting him once in the shoulder.
The man was identified as 52-year-old Wesley Floyd Poole of Phenix City. He received immediate on-site medical assistance before being transported to Piedmont Hospital in Columbus, Georgia, for further treatment. He is currently listed in stable condition.
After the incident, investigators found the gun Poole had pointed at deputies was a CO2-powered pellet pistol closely resembling a real firearm.
As part of the Lee County Sheriff's Office's standard protocol, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) was called in to investigate the shooting, ensuring an independent assessment of the incident.
No deputies were injured in the encounter.
