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FOLEY - A woman eluded a gunshot fired by her
ex-husband Monday night and killed him with a return shot from her own pistol,
authorities said Tuesday.
William Franklin Lewis, 46, was shot in the
chest shortly before midnight, staggered out of the Deborah Court house of his
ex-wife and collapsed on the porch next door. He was pronounced dead at 1:07
a.m., said Baldwin County Deputy Coroner Stan Vinson.
The gun battle appears to have been the
culmination of months of escalating conflict between Lewis and his former wife,
whom court records identify as Lori Lewis.
As of Tuesday night, Foley police had not
arrested Lewis, and no charges had been filed against her, authorities said. Court records show that Lori Lewis had filed
three harassment complaints since March and had gotten a protective court order.
In addition, William Lewis was charged with stalking in April and was out of
jail on a $5,000 bond.
"It seems to have escalated in the last
few months," Foley Police Lt. Richard Springsteen said.
Monday's death was the second domestic-related
homicide in Foley since April. That month, Mack Junior Bloodsworth was charged
in connection with the stabbing death of his 70-year-old wife.
On Monday, according to police, William Lewis
entered his ex-wife's back porch and attacked her.
"He drug her inside. He was armed with a
weapon. She was able to get to a weapon," Springsteen said. "There
were shots from both guns."
Springsteen said Lori Lewis, 44, was not hit
with a bullet but did receive cuts and bruises in the scuffle. He said she was
able to get away from William Lewis long enough to reach her bedroom, where she
retrieved her handgun.
William Lewis followed her and she shot him,
Springsteen said. He said investigators believe she fired just one shot.
"She was trying to calm him down. I don't
think it was working too well," he said.
Alabama law allows a person to use deadly force
to protect his or her life or that of another. Springsteen said police will turn
over information about the case to a grand jury, which will make a final
determination about whether deadly force was justified.
Springsteen said the couple were married for
about 10 years and had no children. Court records indicate they were divorced in
November 1999.
Police and court records paint a picture of
mounting legal problems for William Lewis.
Lori Lewis applied for a protective order in
February, which was granted in March, according to court records.
He was arrested April 25 and charged with
stalking her near her place of employment in Gulf Shores.
William Lewis was scheduled to appear in court
June 8 to answer accusations that the stalking charge constituted a violation of
the protective order.
In addition, Springsteen said, Lori Lewis filed
harassment complaints against her ex-husband in March and April and made a third
complaint in April in Gulf Shores.
Springsteen said it often is difficult for a
woman to protect herself from a determined stalker who wants to harm her. In
this case, he said, it appears the woman took the right steps by applying for a
protective order and making harassment complaints.
Often, women call police but then decline to
press charges, Springsteen said. That is why the Legislature changed the law,
allowing police to make an arrest if they see evidence of domestic violence,
even if the victim does not want to go forward, he said. NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C.
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