Alabama man dies after being shot in March

Monday, May 23, 2011

A 74-year-old Alabama man who was shot when he offered a woman a ride died from his wounds over the weekend.

Authorities believe Boyce Charles "Pete" Batey was shot after he offered Patty Elaine Westbrook, 37, a ride at a gas station in Geraldine, Ala., on March 5.

Batey was shot in the chest at the intersection of DeKalb County Roads 36 and 246, said Sheriff Jimmy Harris in a news release.

Westbrook was initially charged with attempted murder, but Harris said he now plans to try to get the charges upgraded.

She remains in jail on a $250,000 bond, Harris said.

After being shot, Batey hobbled to a nearby house to report the incident, reports said. He was taken to a local hospital then transferred to the UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Harris said.

He remained at the hospital for several weeks and died in hospice care during the weekend, the sheriff said