An Elkmont man shot Thursday night by a Limestone County deputy sheriff remained in critical condition Friday at Huntsville Hospital, an official said.

Gary Leon Cox, 47, of 22651 New Garden Road, was shot four times in the torso Thursday night at his home when he raised a shotgun after one of three officers at the scene told him to put down the gun, Sheriff Mike Blakely said.

The sheriff decline to name which officer fired but said he acted in accordance with policy and training.

“They did an outstanding job and, unfortunately, it had to come to this,” the sheriff said. “We hate any time we are put in that position. We train them to protect themselves, to be right in any situation and to avoid conflict, if possible. Any reasonable officer would have reacted this way.”

Cox was flown by MedFlight helicopter to the hospital, where he was unconscious and breathing with the help of a ventilator Friday afternoon, said his cousin, Janie Pack of Ardmore. The sheriff said doctors are attempting to stabilize him in preparation for surgery.

Limestone County Sheriff’s Deputy Donnie Johns — a part-time deputy who also serves as police chief at Elkmont — Lt. Jay Stinnett and reserve officer Martin Evans went to the home for two reasons. They wanted to question Cox about a complaint from a man who said his wife, Teresa Shores, 48, of Elkmont and Cox had stolen his Soma muscle relaxers, and they wanted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant for harassment. A neighbor had complained that Cox had fired his gun in the yard, had thrown rocks and had threatened to run over people with his lawnmower.

“They knew this was a potentially dangerous situation,” Blakely said.

When they arrived at Cox’s mobile home before 9:40 p.m., they could see Cox and a female, Shores, sitting inside, Blakely said. One officer was positioned at the front door, another at the side of the home and another near the back to make sure Cox did not flee from the back door, the sheriff said.

“They identified themselves, and when he finally came to the door he had a shotgun in his hand behind his back,” Blakely said. “One of the officers recognized the shotgun and yelled for him to put the gun down. Cox attempted to raise the gun and shut the door, and one officer fired and shot him three or four times in the center mass.”

Cox’s record with the Sheriff’s Department dates back to 1983, Blakely said. It includes arrests for assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, burglary and harassment and shows he also spent time in prison. Cox had just been released from jail last week following an arrest for harassment, the sheriff said.

The Sheriff’s Department has asked the Limestone County District Attorney’s Office to investigate the shooting.

An Elkmont man shot Thursday night by a Limestone County deputy sheriff remained in critical condition Friday at Huntsville Hospital, an official said.

Gary Leon Cox, 47, of 22651 New Garden Road, was shot four times in the torso Thursday night at his home when he raised a shotgun after one of three officers at the scene told him to put down the gun, Sheriff Mike Blakely said.

The sheriff decline to name which officer fired but said he acted in accordance with policy and training.

“They did an outstanding job and, unfortunately, it had to come to this,” the sheriff said. “We hate any time we are put in that position. We train them to protect themselves, to be right in any situation and to avoid conflict, if possible. Any reasonable officer would have reacted this way.”

Cox was flown by MedFlight helicopter to the hospital, where he was unconscious and breathing with the help of a ventilator Friday afternoon, said his cousin, Janie Pack of Ardmore. The sheriff said doctors are attempting to stabilize him in preparation for surgery.

Cox had called Limestone County Sheriff’s Deputy Donnie Johns earlier Thursday because he suspected his girlfriend, Teresa Ann Shores, 48, of Elkmont, had stolen his Soma muscle relaxers, Blakely said.

“A neighbor had also complained to Johns earlier Thursday that Cox was out that day shooting a gun and threatening people, ” Blakely said. “The officers knew this was a potentially dangerous situation.”

Before heading to the home, Johns, a part-time deputy who also serves as police chief at Elkmont, had dispatchers check to see if Cox had outstanding warrants. The search turned up one. Johns asked Lt. Jay Stinnett and reserve officer Martin Evans to meet him on New Garden Road.

When the deputies and reserve officer arrived at Cox’s mobile home before 9:40 p.m., they could see Cox and a female, Shores, sitting inside, Blakely said. One officer was positioned at the front door, another at the side of the home and another near the back to make sure Cox did not flee from the back door, the sheriff said.

“They identified themselves, and when he finally came to the door he had a shotgun in his hand behind his back,” Blakely said. “One of the officers recognized the shotgun and yelled for him to put the gun down. Cox attempted to raise the gun and shut the door, and one officer fired and shot him three or four times in the center mass.”

Cox’s record with the Sheriff’s Department dates back to 1983, Blakely said. It includes arrests for assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, burglary and harassment and shows he also spent time in prison. Cox had just been released from jail last week following an arrest for harassment, the sheriff said.

The Sheriff’s Department has asked the Limestone County District Attorney’s Office to investigate the shooting.

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An Elkmont man shot Thursday night by a Limestone County deputy sheriff remained in critical condition Friday at Huntsville Hospital, an official said.

Gary Leon Cox, 47, of 22651 New Garden Road, was shot four times in the torso Thursday night at his home when he raised a shotgun after one of three officers at the scene told him to put down the gun, Sheriff Mike Blakely said.

The sheriff decline to name which officer fired but said he acted in accordance with policy and training.

“They did an outstanding job and, unfortunately, it had to come to this,” the sheriff said. “We hate any time we are put in that position. We train them to protect themselves, to be right in any situation and to avoid conflict, if possible. Any reasonable officer would have reacted this way.”

Cox was flown by MedFlight helicopter to the hospital, where he was unconscious and breathing with the help of a ventilator Friday afternoon, said his cousin, Janie Pack of Ardmore. The sheriff said doctors are attempting to stabilize him in preparation for surgery.

Cox had called Limestone County Sheriff’s Deputy Donnie Johns earlier Thursday because he suspected his girlfriend, Teresa Ann Shores, 48, of Elkmont, had stolen his Soma muscle relaxers, Blakely said.

“A neighbor had also complained to Johns earlier Thursday that Cox was out that day shooting a gun and threatening people, ” Blakely said. “The officers knew this was a potentially dangerous situation.”

Before heading to the home, Johns, a part-time deputy who also serves as police chief at Elkmont, had dispatchers check to see if Cox had outstanding warrants. The search turned up one. Johns asked Lt. Jay Stinnett and reserve officer Martin Evans to meet him on New Garden Road.

When the deputies and reserve officer arrived at Cox’s mobile home before 9:40 p.m., they could see Cox and a female, Shores, sitting inside, Blakely said. One officer was positioned at the front door, another at the side of the home and another near the back to make sure Cox did not flee from the back door, the sheriff said.

“They identified themselves, and when he finally came to the door he had a shotgun in his hand behind his back,” Blakely said. “One of the officers recognized the shotgun and yelled for him to put the gun down. Cox attempted to raise the gun and shut the door, and one officer fired and shot him three or four times in the center mass.”

Cox’s record with the Sheriff’s Department dates back to 1983, Blakely said. It includes arrests for assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, burglary and harassment and shows he also spent time in prison. Cox had just been released from jail last week following an arrest for harassment, the sheriff said.

The Sheriff’s Department has asked the Limestone County District Attorney’s Office to investigate the shooting.