DOTHAN, Ala. — A former Marine from Dothan, Alabama, has been denied bond following accusations that he fatally shot his girlfriend, Harleigh Dills, in the face with an AR-15 rifle.
Dustin Rigsbee, 34, is facing a murder charge in connection with the deadly shooting that occurred on Friday morning at a mobile home in the Summer Chase Trailer Park on Mance Newton Road. At a bond hearing on Wednesday, Judge Stanley Garner determined that Rigsbee posed a significant danger to himself and others, citing his actions following the shooting as a cause for concern. Rigsbee was denied the opportunity to post bond before his trial.
The prosecution outlined the events leading up to the murder during the hearing, with Dothan Police Investigator Scott Spivey testifying that Rigsbee shot Dills around 1:30 a.m. before fleeing the scene. Rigsbee reportedly went to his mother’s house in Jack, located in northern Coffee County, and confessed to her that he had accidentally killed Dills.
However, investigators argue that the nature of the crime suggests otherwise. Spivey described the scene at the trailer, where Dills was found shot at close range in the face, with a blood trail leading to the master bedroom. Her body was covered with a blanket.
The authorities also confirmed that Rigsbee’s three children, along with two of Dills’ children, were present at the trailer at the time of the shooting. Following the incident, Rigsbee took the children to his mother’s house. At around 9:30 a.m., Rigsbee’s mother called 911, reporting that her son had confessed to killing Dills.
When law enforcement arrived at the mother’s home, Rigsbee was found outside, wearing a bulletproof vest and armed with the same AR-15 rifle, along with a knife. An 8-hour standoff ensued, during which Rigsbee threatened to harm himself and law enforcement officers. He was eventually apprehended and taken into custody. During the bond hearing, Rigsbee’s defense attorney, David Harrison, argued that his client should be granted bond, pointing to Rigsbee’s military service and clean criminal record. Harrison also suggested that there was credible evidence to support that the shooting was an accident.
The prosecution, however, strongly disagreed. Dale County Assistant District Attorney Emmett Massey emphasized the brutality of the crime, highlighting that an AR-15 was pointed directly at Dills’ face, refuting the notion that it was an accident. “An AR-15 was still pointed at a young lady’s face. That’s not an accident,” Massey remarked during the hearing. Rigsbee remains in custody, awaiting trial.
The case has raised significant concerns, particularly due to the involvement of young children who were present during the shooting and subsequent events.
