Chuck E Cheese Gunshot Victim Dies, Opioid Scandal: Week In News

BIRMINGHAM, AL - The week of April 15-20 was busy for local law enforcement, and not just in Birmingham. Incidents in Vestavia Hills, Trussville and Hoover all made headlines this past week, and not for good reasons.

An accidental shooting outside the Chuck E Cheese's restaurant in Vestavia Hills last weekend turned fatal when the gunshot victim died this past week. Also, a major opioid prescription scandal throughout the country included the arrests of health care providers in Jefferson and Madison counties.

Here are some of the stories that made headlines the week of April 15-20:

Florida Man Charged In Alleged Stalking Of Trussville Teen

A 19-year-old Florida man has been arrested and charged with the sexual extortion and stalking of a 14-year-old Trussville girl. Justin Richard Testani was booked into the Jefferson County Jail last week after being extradited to Alabama.

Man Dies From Gunshot Wound In Chuck E Cheese's Parking Lot

A man who was shot in the chest while changing a diaper in his car outside the Chuck E Cheese's restaurant in Vestavia Hills has died. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office on Tuesday identified the victim as Timothy Roshun Smith Jr. He was 22 and lived in eastern Birmingham.

Alabama Doctors Charged In Opioid Prescription Scandal

Doctors and medical professionals in five states were charged Wednesday with illegally prescribing pain medication to patients. Those charged included doctors, pharmacists and nurse practitioners, and in some instances, the drugs were traded for sexual favors.

Trussville Man Identified As Body Found In Lake

A body found in Bayview Lake near Pleasant Grove Friday has been identified as Billy Walker Powell Jr. He was 46 and had a last known address in Trussville. Powell's death is being ruled a homicide by law enforcement officials.

Misdemeanor Marijuana Arrests May End In Jefferson County

Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff District Attorney Lynneice Washington said she and other county officials are collaborating on a policy that would put an end to arrests for some non-violent misdemeanors, including simple marijuana possession.