In the winter of 2022, a distressing series of events unfolded in Hayden, Alabama, culminating in the death of 34-year-old Stephen Bentley. On the evening of Wednesday, December 7th, law enforcement officers from the Blount County Sheriff's Office and the Hayden Police Department were dispatched to a residence on Dogwood Lane following a welfare check request. The call was made out of concern for a woman, later identified as Bentley's aunt, who was reported to be held against her will and assaulted.
Upon their arrival, officers first encountered Stephen Bentley at the back door of the home. Shortly after, his aunt emerged from the residence with visible injuries to her head. The situation escalated when Bentley reappeared, holding a gun behind his back. He then brought the weapon into view, aiming it in the direction of his aunt while repeatedly telling the officers to "kill me."
Body camera footage from the scene captured officers commanding Bentley to drop his weapon on at least six different occasions. When he did not comply with their commands, both a Hayden police officer and a Blount County sheriff's deputy discharged their firearms. It is unclear how many shots were fired in total. After the shooting, officers cleared the house and began to administer first aid to Bentley while attempts to call for an ambulance via radio were unsuccessful. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency was subsequently called in to investigate the officer-involved shooting. The Blount County Sheriff expressed his belief that the actions of the officers were justified, stating that they not only saved their own lives but also the life of Bentley's aunt.
