In the small town of Hamilton, Alabama, a tragic event unfolded on a Wednesday morning, leaving the community in shock and mourning the loss of a respected resident. Linda Cole, a 61-year-old female, was fatally shot on February 10, 2016, at the accounting firm where she was a partner. The incident was part of a shooting spree that also claimed the life of another individual and left the alleged gunman wounded.
The alleged shooter was identified as Jimmy Cooper, who was 57 years old at
the time. Authorities reported that Cooper first went to a local law firm and shot Donny Miller, his former business partner. Following that, he proceeded to the nearby accounting office of Lawler and Cole CPA's, LLC, where he shot and killed Linda Cole. It was reported that Cooper had been a client of Cole's.
After the shootings, Cooper was confronted by law enforcement. During the confrontation, he was shot in the arm and leg before being taken into custody. The State Bureau of Investigation was called to look into the officer-involved shooting aspect of the case.
The motive for the deadly rampage appeared to be rooted in a past business dispute. Court records indicated that Cooper had previously owned an insulation company and had been ordered to pay a significant amount of money in a lawsuit several years prior. In the aftermath of the violence, Cooper was charged with two counts of capital murder.
