Combs man charged in slaying of neighbor
Dale Wayne Bryant, 55, of Combs shot his neighbor in the back with a 12-gauge shotgun after an argument Aug. 8, according to a probable-cause report.
Samuel Scott Hicks, 30, died at the scene.
Bryant was arraigned Tuesday in Huntsville and pleaded innocent to first-degree murder. About two dozen people showed up outside the courthouse to support Bryant, said Matt Durrett, the prosecuting attorney for the district that includes Washington and Madison counties.
Bryant told police “he was having neighbor troubles,” according to the report by Lt. Russell Alberts of the Madison County sheriff’s office.
“They were shining laser lights at his residence all hours of the night,” Alberts wrote.
Bryant left his house about 8 a.m. with a shotgun in his hands and walked to Madison County Road 4322, where he was met by Hicks, according to the report.
“Witnesses stated that he struck Hicks in the face with the shotgun,” Alberts wrote. “Hicks took the shotgun from him and a physical altercation ensued. The altercation broke up. Hicks started to walk away when Bryant retrieved his shotgun and fired a round at Hicks, missing him and striking a tree, at which time he pumped another round into the chamber and fired again at Hicks, this time striking him in the back as he was going away.”
Bryant went to his house, unloaded the shotgun and called the sheriff’s office, according to the report. Then he went outside and waited for deputies to arrive.
Alberts arrived at 8:35 a.m. and found Hicks “who showed no signs of life,” according to the report. He talked with Bryant before placing him under arrest.
Bryant was released on a $3,500 bond Aug. 16 when he might have been facing a manslaughter charge.
“After the investigation was complete, we determined that first-degree murder was the most appropriate charge,” Durrett said in an email.
Bryant will remain free on an additional $25,000 signature bond secured with 33 acres of real estate he owns in Madison County, according to a court filling.