Montgomery, Alabama – On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Paul David Chapman, 50, from Verbena, Alabama, was sentenced to 50 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. Following his prison sentence, Chapman will be on supervised release for three years. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, around 10:44 p.m. on October 9, 2019, the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office went to a residence in Verbena after receiving multiple 911 calls, including one from Chapman, that shots had been fired. When deputies arrived, they found Chapman sitting on a couch inside the house with a gunshot wound. A handgun was next to Chapman on the couch. Chapman stated that he had exchanged gunfire with another individual after the two argued over Chapman’s dog being struck and killed by a car. Chapman was taken from the residence for medical treatment. After searching the area, investigators discovered Chapman’s wife deceased in the front yard. She had been hit by a stray round during the exchange of gunfire. Investigators also found an additional firearm in the residence. Chapman has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case was investigated by the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon W. Bates prosecuted the case.