Marengo County shooting leaves U.S. Marshal officer wounded and suspect dead

A U.S. Marshals Service task force officer was wounded during an early-morning attempt to serve an arrest warrant in Marengo County, Alabama. The incident occurred around 6 a.m. on Tuesday in the 100 block of Ruby Drive.

According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the target of the warrant was 47-year-old Ernest Christopher Nathan, who was wanted for murder. During the encounter, an officer was struck by gunfire. Task force officers returned fire, killing Nathan at the scene.

The wounded officer was transported to a hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. The State Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate the shooting at the request of the U.S. Marshals Service. Findings from the investigation will be submitted to the Marengo County District Attorney’s Office.