17 year old killed in Gadsden rape and home invasion

A Monday morning

home invasion in Gadsden led to the rape of a 37-year-old woman and the shooting death of a teen suspect.

Around 3 a.m., three men kicked in the front door of a woman's home on Norris Avenue. According to Gadsden police, one of the suspects, who was armed with a handgun, raped the victim in her bedroom at gunpoint while the other two men ransacked the home. A short time later, after two of the suspects had fled the scene, her attacker stayed at the home, beating her in the head with his gun and demanding money. After telling the suspect that her neighbor kept all of her cash, he reportedly forced the woman at gunpoint to walk down the street to the neighbor's home.

Upon arriving, the victim knocked on her 59-year-old neighbor's door and yelled for the homeowner to hand over her money so she could stop the attack. Once awake, the neighbor looked out of his window to see what was happening. He then grabbed his gun and called 911 for help.

The woman told police that the suspect fired two shots into the air after seeing the man on the phone and yelling for him to hang up. The frightened homeowner then fired one shot at the suspect, striking him in the chest.

The suspect tried to run from the location but he collapsed to his death within seconds of being shot.

Police and paramedics arrived a short time later and determined the suspect was 17 years old. The woman was taken to the hospital for treatment while her neighbor was taken to police headquarters. He was questioned and later released. 

An investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Gadsden Police Department detectives at 256-549-4630.