Wallace Wilder, 62

Gordo, Alabama
August 28, 2019

Agencies: Alabama State Bureau of Investigation | Pickens County Sheriff's Office Alabama

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: over 4 years ago

Overview

A 62-year-old man shot to death by west Alabama lawmen had a long, documented history of mental illness and his daughter says those who fatally shot him knew that when they killed him.

Wallace Wilder died Wednesday afternoon after being shot at his Gordo apartment in Pickens County. He had long ago been diagnosed as a bipolar schizophrenic and even was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity in a Tuscaloosa County killing in the 1980s, according to court records.

“The police go through training and have guidelines on how to detain mental patients but instead they shot him multiple times in the chest,’’ said his grieving daughter, 23-year-old Mariah Wilder. “I will not rest, and I know my dad’s soul will not rest, until we get justice.”

The shooting happened at the Grandview Gardens apartments where Wilder lived alone. A neighbor called police to report a disturbance in Wilder’s apartment and police responded to the scene.

“He was inside breaking stuff,’’ Mariah said. “She (the neighbor) feared for his safety.”

Authorities have released no details about the deadly shooting. ABC 33/40 reported that newly-appointed Pickens County Sheriff Todd Hall told the television station that he was involved in the shooting. Efforts by AL. com to reach Hall for comment have been unsuccessful. Prior to being appointed sheriff, Hall was the longtime Gordo police chief.