Suspect Identified After Monday Morning Pursuit, Officer-Involved Shooting In Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit has identified the suspect accused of prompting a vehicle pursuit Monday morning that culminated with an officer-involved shooting on Montclair Circle.

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Captain Jack Kennedy, commander of the multiagency unit, said Leia Darby, 37, has been charged with one count of attempting to elude law enforcement and one count of reckless endangerment.

Kennedy then said she also had multiple outstanding warrants, with no bond for failure to appear or comply with court on other previous charges. Darby's bond was set at $6,000 for each of the two new charges stemming from the events Monday morning.

As Patch previously reported, the incident allegedly began when Darby was attempting to flee from officers with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force in a vehicle.

Task Force officers, along with Tuscaloosa Police Department patrol officers, eventually located the vehicle a short time later in the back yard of a residence in the 1300 Block of Montclair Circle.

Kennedy said at the time that TPD officers approached the suspect vehicle on foot, and the woman attempted to flee again by driving out of the yard in the direction of the officers. He then said one of the Tuscaloosa Police officers fired a handgun, while another officer fired a non-lethal bean bag round at the vehicle.

Darby reportedly stopped the vehicle after shots rang out and was taken into custody. Kennedy said she also sustained minor injuries during the incident, but was not struck by a bullet or projectile.

The Violent Crimes Unit said the case will be investigated by officers and supervisors not affiliated with the Tuscaloosa Police Department.

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