An Alabama state judge is currently in critical condition following an incident where his 36-year-old son reportedly shot him during a domestic dispute over the weekend.
Khalfani A. Hardwick was arrested on Saturday and accused of one count of first-degree domestic violence assault and one count of being a forbidden person in possession of a firearm in the incident involving Judge Johnny Hardwick, officials revealed.
As per a news release from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to Johnny Hardwick’s residence at about 1pm on Saturday in response to a potential domestic violence incident involving the presiding judge of Montgomery County’s Fifteenth Judicial Circuit.
Upon reaching the scene, first responders found Judge Hardwick, who had been attacked, shot, and severely injured by his son.
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Judge’s Son Attempt to Escape After Assault
After the reported assault, Khalfani Hardwick tried to escape the scene in his truck, which was later discovered abandoned on the side of Trotman Road in Montgomery, according to police.
Authorities found Khalfani Hardwick during a search of the surrounding area, walking along US Highway 231, and arrested him without any issues.
Authorities reported that Judge Hardwick was taken to a hospital after sustaining “serious” injuries in the alleged assault.
According to a report from NBC News, the judge underwent emergency surgery and is currently in critical condition.
Authorities have not disclosed any information regarding the possible reasons behind the shooting.
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed expressed his well wishes for Judge Hardwick’s speedy recovery from his injuries on Saturday evening.
As per a report from AL.com, Khalfani Hardwick was arrested in 2014 and charged with attempted murder for shooting a family friend in the back of the head during an argument.
Following his initial absence at the beginning of his trial, Khalfani Hardwick eventually struck an agreement with prosecutors. In 2017, he admitted guilt to one charge of second-degree assault related to the incident.
As a result, he was given a three-year suspended sentence and placed on supervised probation. His father served as a circuit court judge during that period.
Khalfani Hardwick is presently detained at the Montgomery County Detention Center on a $15,000 bond. The timing of his next court appearance remains uncertain.
