On a Friday evening in Gadsden, Alabama, a police encounter turned fatal, resulting in the death of 28-year-old Cody LaWayne Stewart. The incident, which involved officers from the Gadsden Police Department, occurred on January 6, 2023, on Hinsdale Avenue. Stewart, a resident of Gadsden, sustained fatal injuries during the officer-involved shooting.
In the immediate aftermath of the event, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's State Bureau of Investigation took the lead in the inquiry, a
standard procedure for shootings involving police officers in the state. The Gadsden Police Department requested the state-level investigation to ensure impartiality. At the time, law enforcement officials announced that the findings of the comprehensive investigation would be handed over to the Etowah County District Attorney's Office for review. No officers were harmed during the incident.
Details regarding the circumstances that led to the shooting have not been publicly released. Information concerning the specifics of the encounter between Stewart and the Gadsden police officers remains undisclosed pending the outcome of the investigation. Authorities have not released any information about what precipitated the fatal event.
As of early 2026, the final report and the conclusions of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's investigation into the death of Cody Stewart have not been made public. Consequently, the Etowah County District Attorney's Office has not issued any public statements regarding their findings or whether any legal action will be pursued in connection with the officer-involved shooting. The case remains without a publicly available resolution, leaving the full story of the moments leading to Stewart's death detailed only within the confines of the ongoing investigation.
