Saturday, November 8, 2025–3:00 p.m.

-Staff reports-

A man wanted for the attempted murder of a DeKalb County, Alabama, Sheriff’s deputy on October 29 was taken into custody Friday evening in Floyd County.

According to Sheriff Nick Welden, the deputy attempted to stop a white van driven by 50-year-old Gary Jody Childers, who had an active warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

When the deputy activated his blue lights, the vehicle initially appeared to stop, but then accelerated.

Childers then pointed a handgun out of the window and fired multiple shots at the deputy, striking the patrol vehicle.

The pursuit ended when Childers crashed into a utility pole and fled the scene on foot.

Childers was arrested by Floyd County Police at a location on Alabama Highway.

He is also facing charges locally for stealing a trailer and lumber from a location on Alabama Highway near Huffaker Road on October 23.

That same day, Childers threatened to shoot the clerk at a nearby store while stealing gasoline.

He remains in the Floyd County Jail, where he faces local charges of theft by taking a motor vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, obstruction, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, giving a false name or date of birth, and fugitive from justice.

Once extradited back to DeKalb County, Childers faces charges of attempted murder and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm.

He also faces federal charges.