In the early morning hours of Friday, February 13, 2026, a deadly confrontation shattered the quiet of an Elberta, Alabama neighborhood. Charles Lee Douglas II, a 40-year-old man, was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in the 12000 block of Sandy Creek Drive. The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a shooting at approximately 3:36 a.m. and discovered his body upon their arrival.
The investigation quickly led to an acquaintance and neighbor of the victim.
Paul Maxwell, Jr., 45, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting. According to the Baldwin County Assistant District Attorney, the two men were friends who had been together that evening before a disagreement escalated. Maxwell reportedly admitted to authorities that he was the one who fired the fatal shots.
Investigators have stated that the argument between the two men turned violent, leading to the gunfire. It was reported that Douglas was unarmed at the time of the incident. During the altercation, the victim's wife and son were present inside the home but were not physically harmed. Maxwell was taken into custody and booked into the local detention center. A judge set his bond at $200,000. Under the conditions of his potential release, he would be required to wear a GPS ankle monitor, is prohibited from possessing firearms, and is ordered to have no contact with the victim's family. He is also not permitted to return to his residence on Sandy Creek Drive.
