Debra Ann Chapman, a 60-year-old White female, was tragically killed on October 9, 2019, in a shooting that stemmed from a dispute over a dog in Verbena, a community in Chilton County, Alabama. The incident unfolded after a vehicle struck and killed a dog belonging to Chapman and her husband, Paul David Chapman.
Following the accident, the driver of the vehicle reportedly stopped and tried to find the dog's owner but was unsuccessful and left the scene. Shortly after, Paul Chapman came out of his residence and began shooting. A man who was visiting a nearby home, identified as Dallas Clint Gray, responded by returning fire. The exchange of gunfire resulted in Debra Chapman being fatally wounded and her husband, Paul, sustaining serious injuries.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Dallas Clint Gray, 23, was arrested and charged with murder. However, the Chilton County Sheriff at the time stated that Gray had a right to defend himself as Paul Chapman had fired first. The case was to be presented to a grand jury for their consideration.
Further investigation into the incident revealed that Paul David Chapman was a convicted felon and therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. In November 2022, he was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Court records indicated that when law enforcement arrived at the scene, they found Paul Chapman inside his house with a gunshot wound and a handgun next to him. He admitted to exchanging gunfire with another individual following an argument over his dog being hit by a car. Investigators found Debra Chapman deceased in the front yard, having been struck by a stray bullet during the shootout.
