Man charged with murder in Stevenson shotgun slaying

photo David Hutchins

One Jackson County, Ala., man is dead and another is behind bars on a murder charge after a shotgun shooting Thanksgiving night in Stevenson.

David Hutchins, 43, of 214 Milltown Circle in Stevenson, went to the town's police department and reported that "he had shot a gentleman at his residence," Sheriff Chuck Phillips said Friday.

Christopher Paul Timberlake, 32, of Hollywood, Ala., was found dead on the porch at Hutchins' home. Timberlake had been killed around 8 p.m. Thursday by a shotgun blast, the sheriff said.

Phillips said the two men fought over a love triangle and gunfire resulted.

The sheriff said others were present at the time of the shooting, including an 11-year-old child. There were no other injuries and there are no other suspects in the slaying, he said.

Hutchins is charged with murder, and no court date has been set, officials said.

Timberlake's body has been sent for an autopsy. The sheriff said he expected the cause of death to be the shotgun blast, but that medical examiners would provide the official cause over the next few days.

Jail officials said a bond likely would be set for Hutchins on Monday.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.

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