Woman charged with shooting ex-husband over Easter weekend

A Northport woman found herself behind bars Easter weekend after investigators said she shot her ex-husband. It happened in early Saturday morning in the Windsong neighborhood in Northport.

Jerri Denise Pate, 61, is charged with attempted murder. Investigators said before the shooting, Pate and her ex-husband spent the evening together at a local bar.

When they returned to the home on Meadowlark Lane, they got into a fight, investigators said, and that’s when Pate’s ex-husband was shot.

Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Commander Capt. Jack Kennedy said domestic disputes like this are some of the most dangerous situations for law enforcement.

“Anytime you feel like you are getting involved in violence or danger, then you need to remove yourself from the situation and just contact the police,” Kennedy said. “That is what we are there for. We can come out and take reports, make arrests if we have to. If everyone removes themselves from the situation, hopefully that won’t even be necessary. We can calm the situation down and assist with the victims or parties being separated. Of course we can report it for future incidents as well, which can become important if violence happens at a later date.”

Pate was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail, and has since been released on bond.