Small Alabama town bitterly divided by ‘stand your ground’ trial of man who shot neighbor

A judge has declared a mistrial in the controversial ‘stand your ground’ case of a man who shot his arsonist neighbor for trespassing onto his property in the dead of night.

Keith Sullivan was charged with the murder of Greg Bagwell in Grove Oak, Alabama, despite his claims of self defense.

His supporters say he should never have been put on trial due to the state’s ‘stand your ground’ laws.

Bagwell was shot dead by Sullivan after he turned up on his front porch at around 2am on May 8, 2023.

Sullivan’s defense said that Bagwell was a known arsonist and drug user, who he had reported to police for acting erratically in the days prior to the incident.

But prosecutors argued that surveillance footage shows the accused shooting Bagwell in the back as he was leaving the property. 

A mistrial was declared Tuesday as the trial entered its seventh day, after jurors were unable to reach a verdict. 

Sullivan pleaded not guilty to murder  after being denied immunity under Alabama’s Stand Your Ground Law. 

A judge has declared a mistrial in the ‘stand your ground’ trial of father Keith Sullivan (right) who shot his neighbor after he trespassed onto his property in the dead of night

Sullivan was charged with the 2023 murder of Greg Bagwell  (pictured) in Grove Oak, Alabama

‘It’s as clear cut a case of Stand Your Ground as any I have ever seen,’ Sullivan’s attorney Thomas Kenniff told DailyMail.com.

Kenniff previously represented Daniel Penny, the former Marine cleared over the death of a black homeless man called Jordan Neely on a New York subway train.  

‘I really don’t have an answer as to why Mr Sullivan is being prosecuted.

‘In Danny’s case, he acted to protect subway passengers who were strangers, in Mr Sullivan’s case, it was his wife and teenage daughter. 

‘The law obviously applies in the same way in both cases, but the motivations are to protect. 

‘In New York we see liberal prosecutors and judges who don’t really value self defense the way they do in Alabama so it is surprising to me.’

On the day of Bagwell’s death, Sullivan’s wife and teenage daughter were inside the home. He went to the front of his home and instructed his wife to call 911.

Sullivan said he mistakenly thought the deceased had a weapon after he reached into his waistband, WAFF reports.

He then shot Bagwell seven times, the Times Journal reports. Sullivan later passed a polygraph test about whether he believed the deceased was armed. 

Sullivan claims he was acting in self-defense because he mistakenly thought Bagwell was armed

He has received an outpouring of support from his local community and church, of which he is an active member

Bagwell has a lengthy rap sheet for arson, shooting at neighbors’ homes, drugs and reckless endangerment. A previous bond for him had been revoked just three days before he died.

Sullivan is a church music director and teacher who has no criminal history. He has been supported in court by his family and former students.

The trial has divided the small Alabama community where it unfolded and has faced several set backs.

The defense rested on Thursday, arguing the prosecution had not produced enough evidence to prove that Sullivan was unjustified in gunning down Bagwell, WAFF reports.

On Monday an alternate juror had to be called in after one member of the jury fell sick. That afternoon the panel returned its first deadlock note. 

On Tuesday, Sullivan’s defense requested that a juror be removed after both he and the DA failed to disclose that the DA’s office is prosecuting a manslaughter case on behalf of his son, who died after allegedly being sold fentanyl-laced drugs.

The same juror was also seen posting about the deliberation process on Facebook, expressing frustration he was unable to convince other jurors of his point of view and calling for the death penalty, Kenniff added. 

But prosecutors say Sullivan shot Bagwell multiple times in the back as he was leaving his property

Judge Shaunathan Bell denied the request and the juror was allowed to continue with deliberations.

A second  ‘hopelessly deadlocked’ note was received on Tuesday and a hung jury was declared. 

Kenniff said that donations to his client’s fundraiser will be used for any further trials.