Alabama cop, 40, who was also dad of two girls, is shot and killed during a gunfight

Alabama cop, 40, who was also dad of two girls, is shot in the face and killed during a gunfight with a wanted felon

  • A Tuscaloosa Police Officer has died following a shooting Monday night 
  • Dornell Cousette, 40, who served 13 years with the department was shot dead
  • Cousette was shot in the face and was taken to hospital where he later died
  • He is the fourth police officer to be shot dead this year in Alabama 
  • Authorities say the suspect, 20, was also wounded but is now in custody

Dornell Cousette, a 40-year-old who served 13 years with the department was killed during a gunfight with the suspect and the officer.

An Alabama police officer from Tuscaloosa was shot dead while pursuing a wanted felon.

Dornell Cousette, a 40-year-old who served 13 years with the department was killed during a gunfight between the suspect and the officer. 

‘Heroes come in many different forms,’ said Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. ‘Tonight, one of our heroes has died in the line of duty.’ 

Tuscaloosa Interim Police Chief Mitt Tubbs said Cousette received a tip a wanted suspect wanted on outstanding warrants for failure to appear on felony crimes was at his home.

When Cousette arrived, he saw the suspect on the front porch at which point the suspect ran inside.

As the officer followed the suspect, gunshots rang out and both the unidentified suspect and officer were wounded. 

Cousette is the fourth police officer to be shot to death in the line of duty in Alabama this year

Cousette was fatally shot in the face and died a short time later on the way to hospital

Cousette was fatally shot in the face and died a short time later on the way to hospital

Cousette had two daughters and was engaged to be married

Cousette had two daughters and was engaged to be married

Cousette was fatally shot in the face and died a short time later on the way to hospital. 

The 20-year-old suspect left the home after the shooting and also ended up in a nearby hospital where he was arrested.

The suspect had been previously arrested in 2017 on charges of robbery and assault.  

Cousette was a veteran of the U.S. Army and joined the police force in 2006. 

He is the fourth police officer to be shot to death in the line of duty in Alabama this year.

‘It’s terribly difficult,” Chief Tubbs said. ‘Every time you hear the phone ring, you just hope it’s not this call. And unfortunately today it was this call.’

‘We are a family, and it’s very difficult to take,” he said.  

Cousette had two daughters and was engaged to be married.

‘He was a great officer. Everybody loved him,’ Tubbs said. ‘You can tell by the number of people who arrived at the hospital when we got the news. He was well thought of throughout the department and he was a hero. He was a hero.’ 

‘Alabama has already lost three police officers to hostile fire during 2019 – the greatest amount due to gunfire in a single year in our state since 2009,’ Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall told AL.com. 

‘The violence that law enforcement faces is a significant issue, but it is also a reflection of a rise in violent crime being felt across the nation.’ 

Cousette was a veteran of the U.S. Army and joined the police force in 2006

Cousette was a veteran of the U.S. Army and joined the police force in 2006

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk