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Man dead, girlfriend shot in Coatopa community

A Sumter County man is dead and his girlfriend wounded following an incident Friday that is being reported as a domestic violence situation that turned deadly.

According to reports, the couple resided together at a residence in the Coatopa community. When deputies with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene along AL Hwy. 28, at approximately 3:30 p.m., they found Natalie Thomas, 37, suffering a gunshot wound to the neck. Thomas was transported to UAB Hospital and is expected to recover.

Her boyfriend, Tommy Thrash, 39, was discovered dead at the scene from what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot.

A 5-year-old was in the home at the time of the shootings, but was not harmed.

Sumter County Sheriff Brian Harris described the incident as a domestic situation that turned deadly.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, May 9 issue of the Demopolis Times.)