Montgomery, Alabama – A disturbing incident unfolded on Saturday, leaving Montgomery County Judge Johnny Hardwick in serious condition after being shot by his own son, Khalfani Hardwick. The shooting occurred inside the judge’s Montgomery home during a heated argument, according to authorities.
The motive behind the violent act remains unclear, but investigators quickly identified Khalfani, a convicted felon who had previously avoided jail time for a decade-old murder, as the suspect involved in the shooting. After the shooting, Khalfani fled the scene in a truck, abandoning the vehicle just five miles away near a local fire department. Law enforcement located and apprehended him shortly after, only a mile from the abandoned truck.
Despite being taken into custody as a suspect, Khalfani has not yet been charged with a crime. Meanwhile, Judge Hardwick underwent surgery for his serious injuries sustained from the gunshot wound. The exact circumstances leading to the domestic incident and the number of times Judge Hardwick was shot remain undisclosed by the police.
This tragic event sheds light on Khalfani Hardwick’s history of violence, including his admission to fatally shooting another man in 2014. Despite this previous crime, Khalfani served no prison time, highlighting potential failures in the judicial system’s handling of violent offenders.
Judge Johnny Hardwick, a respected member of the 15th Judicial Circuit since 2001, is currently receiving treatment for his injuries. His prominent position as the president of the Alabama Association of Circuit Court Judges portrays a stark contrast to the violence that unfolded within his own family. The aftermath of this harrowing incident serves as a grim reminder of the complex and often interconnected nature of violence and the criminal justice system.