Church robbery suspect identified

[UPDATE: 7/17/2017 at 10:54:43 AM]

One person was shot late Sunday night at or near Crossroads Baptist Church on Westgate Parkway in Dothan. Dothan Police have identified the suspect as Steffon Tolver. Tolver was shot by an armed staff member.

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Update at 8:30 a.m. Monday----Houston County Robert Byrd said the person shot did not have any identifying document on him. Therefore, forensics tests will be performed before the 30-year old man's name is released to the public.

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A suspected robber was fatally shot Sunday night inside Crossroads Baptist Church on Westgate Parkway in Dothan.

Police Chief Steve Parrish, on the scene, said the shooting apparently involved a robbery of people inside the church. None were injured.

Meanwhile, a first responder at the scene not authorized to speak publicly said offerings collected Sunday were being prepared for transport to the bank.

The suspect encountered one church member outside and forced him into the building. That’s when the one shot was fired. The man killed was apparently armed, according to a police source.

Initial indications are the shooting was in self-defense and charges are not likely though evidence could be presented to a Houston County Grand Jury as a matter of policy.

Crossroads Baptist is a growing church that also has a Christian-based school that includes kindergarten though no students were present at the time of the shooting.