Residents describe terror, confusion during RV park shooting

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Residents described moments of confusion and terror as a gunman fired on authorities Sunday at an Alabama mobile home park that is primarily home to college students and young couples.

Residents on Tuesday said Arrowhead Park had been quiet and safe prior to the shooting that left one officer dead and two others wounded. The suspect, 29-year-old Grady Wayne Wilkes, is an Alabama National Guard member. He appeared in court for an initial hearing Tuesday.

"It's a harmonious kind of place," said Tom Cordi, the owner of the park. "It's baffling."

After Dylan Edwards, 25, heard the gunshots, he stepped outside his trailer to investigate. He ran into an officer, who said, "There's a lunatic with an AR and armor on, y'all get inside." The officer's voice was trembling. "You could tell he was scared," Edwards said.

Tammy Klinton said she initially thought the gunshots were celebratory. But then she and her boyfriend saw an officer with a gunshot wound running down a hill.

Klinton said her boyfriend went to help the officer, but was told to get inside immediately.

Elizabeth Daniel, an Auburn student and resident of the park, barricaded herself in her bedroom. She turned off the lights, placed a curtain rod against her door and grabbed a toy foam bat for protection.

In an email to residents, Cordi said he had never had the "slightest hint of a problem" with Wilkes, who lived there.

Wilkes was arrested Monday on charges of shooting the three Auburn police officers after they responded to a domestic disturbance call late Sunday.

Veteran officer William Buechner was killed. Authorities said the other officers, Webb Sistrunk and Evan Elliott, are expected to recover.

Investigators haven't said what prompted the shootings, only that officers came under fire...