HARDIN COUNTY — Investigators in Hardin County are trying to determine if a homicide on Friday was a case of a self-defense.
Donald Tunnell, 56, was fatally shot around 9 p.m. Friday at a home in the 6800 block of North Fawn Drive off of Wheeler Road near Lumberton.
Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis told 12News investigators interviewed the shooter, identified as Taylor Wayne Stout, 24. He is said to be the son of the victim’s girlfriend.
Sheriff Davis said Stout, Stout’s mother and Tunnell all lived together.
Stout had been released from jail on evading arrests and other misdemeanor charges earlier the same day as the shooting.
Sheriff Davis said Stout’s mother was at the house when the shooting happened.
"He does not deny shooting the deceased, there are circumstances that have been listed and given in statement forms, his attorney was present," said Major Dennis Allen.
Sheriff Davis said it has not yet been determined if the shooting was in self-defense and no charges have been filed as of Monday.
"Apparently it was described that something had caused a disagreement or altercation between the two," said Major Dennis Allen.
Stouts attorney Todd LeBlanc said his client acted out of self-defense. He explained Tunnell threatened Stout with his gun. He said Stout reacted by wrestling the gun from Tunnell and ended up shooting him in self-defense. LeBlanc said his client was devastated after the incident and had psychiatric treatment.
Major Allen said the District Attorney’s will convene a grand jury who will decide if charges will be filed against stout.
“We are not wanting to make a snap judgment or an early judgment, we want to evaluate everything we go,” said Major Dennis Allen.