Midland City, AL: Midland City Man Kills Cousin in Domestic Dispute

An Ozark man is dead after a late night domestic dispute in Midland city ended with one man fatally shooting his cousin.
Posted: 8:22 PM Sep 15, 2009
Reporter: Patrick Claybon
Email Address: Patrick@wtvy.com


27-Year-Old Josh Cook was charged with Murder in the Killing of his cousin during a domestic dispute.
Midland City AL- The circumstances that led to the death of James Stephens started long ago during the separation of a married couple, and police say one mans distrust in his wife and his cousin is what led to Monday and Early Tuesdays bloody events..

Late Monday night, as Josh Cook and his estranged wife began arguing over custody of their child, the wife called Cooks cousin, James Stephens for help
" The wife was coming to pick up the baby, and so they got into an argument and so at that time his wife called Mr. Stephens, " Said Investigator John Green of the Midland City Police Department

After Stephens arrived the argument escalated to the point that Stephens was shot in the abdomen, he tried to leave the scene in his truck but lost control just a few yards away.
That's when police arrived with cook outside confessing to the shooting.
" He Stated that he had shot a person and that he had put the gun on the top of a vehicle parked in his yard" Said Green " and that the person he had shot was down the street in a pickup truck."
Dale county Rescue rushed Stephens to Flowers hospital where he later died in surgery. Investigators say the two men had multiple arguments in the past where cook accused Stephens of having a relationship with his wife
" There was a prior altercation between Mr. Stephens and Mr. cook concerning his wife and this altercation lead to the death of Mr. James Stephens " Said Green

Josh Cook has been charged with murder, he is currently being held in the Dale County Jail without bond.