- PHOTO BY ALISON JAMES RPD investigators use a bucket truck in surveying and documenting the scene where a domestic dispute began Tuesday morning that ultimately ended with the shooting death of one and the apparent suicide of the shooter.
Husband kills wife, takes life Tuesday
Published 2:11 pm Tuesday, May 16, 2017
A domestic call to Russellville Police Department ended with the death of a husband and wife Tuesday morning.
According to RPD Chief Chris Hargett, a domestic situation that had been brewing for about two weeks, according to family member reports, escalated Tuesday morning between Joshua Stiles, 30, and wife Brittney Stiles, 22. At the couple’s home on College Avenue in Russellville, Joshua Stiles reportedly was arguing with Brittney Stiles. She left the residence, but he called her allegedly threatening their young child if she didn’t return to the residence. Hargett said when she returned to the house to take the child, it was then that he apparently continued the altercation, pulled a handgun and fired at her multiple times, killing her.
The child, in a car seat in the back seat, was unharmed.
Joshua Stiles reportedly left the scene at that time. As the RPD responded to the scene, investigators received word that officers with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office were in pursuit of the suspect on Waterloo Road, and RPD officers joined that pursuit.
According to Hargett, the car chase never reached unsafe speeds but continued until the culmination on Highway 247 across the county line into Colbert. Multiple agencies responded as part of the chase, including Red Bay PD, state troopers and Colbert County, in addition to the FCSO and RPD. One intervention maneuver was unsuccessful, but authorities were able to stop Joshua Stiles with a spike strip and roadblock. He ultimately lost control of the vehicle, according to Hargett, left the roadway and hit a tree.
Authorities advanced on the vehicle to find that Joshua Stiles had apparently shot himself.
The Colbert County Coroner took possession of his body, and the Franklin County Coroner took possession of hers, which will be autopsied.
Russellville schools were briefly on lockdown during the incident, due to the home’s proximity to campus.
“This was a young couple just starting their lives, and now there’s an infant child growing up without his parents. It’s a sad situation,” Hargett said.
Hargett reported Joshua Stiles was honorably discharged from the military in January 2016.
