Correctional officer shoots wife

April 17, 2007

By Tony Bridges

COTTONDALE

A Department of Corrections lieutenant shot his estranged wife in the head and then was gunned down by another correctional officer at a Jackson County home over the weekend.

Julian "Jack" Shiver, 44, and Felisia Shiver, 45, both were in intensive care Monday at a hospital in Dothan, Ala., according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

This is what deputies said happened at about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday:
Felisia Shiver was visiting co-worker Paul Barber Jr., 52, at his home in Cottondale when her husband — from whom she’d separated in January — showed up at the front door.

Jack Shiver demanded that his wife and Barber let him into the house. When they refused, he kicked in the door and confronted his wife.

They argued, then Shiver pulled out a pistol and shot her in the head.

Barber grabbed a shotgun, and Shiver fired at least one round at him. Barber fired back, hitting Shiver twice in the upper body.

When the shooting was over, Barber called 9-1-1. Emergency workers rushed the husband and wife to Flowers Hospital in Dothan.

Felisia Shiver was listed in "extremely critical" condition Monday, while Jack Shiver’s condition was improving, said Maj. John Dennis.

Barber was not injured in the shooting.

Dennis said charges of attempted murder and armed burglary were pending against Jack Shiver. He’s under 24-hour guard in the hospital.

All three worked for DOC, a spokeswoman confirmed Monday.

Barber is a captain at Calhoun Correctional Institution, where Felisia Shiver is a secretary, and Jack Shiver is a lieutenant at Liberty Correctional Institution, according to DOC.

Meanwhile, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that there had been no prior reports of domestic violence at the Shiver’s home in Altha.