- Text
Nathan Van Wilkins, accused Ala. bar shooter, fired from job after fistfight, police say
Booking photo of Nathan Van Wilkins, who is charged in a shooting attack that left 17 people injured in a bar in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on July 17, 2012
/ AP Photo/Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Department(CBS/AP) BROOKWOOD, Ala. - Police said Nathan Van Wilkins was fired from his job after a fistfight with a co-worker three months before he allegedly opened fire with an assault rifle at an Alabama bar Tuesday.
Brookwood Assistant Police Police Chief Jimmy Sellers said Wilkins was angry about being fired from Capstone Oilfield last April, and he was pressing assault charges against the other man.
It's not clear what role the firing may have played in the shootings that wounded 17 people. Sellers said he's not aware of any connection between the shooting victims and the company. Wilkins reportedly had many stresses in his life that include a divorce and a bankruptcy filing.
Police have charged the Wilkins, 44, with 18 counts of attempted murder. Wilkins is also suspected of setting three fires to equipment or property owned by Capstone.
Complete coverage of Nathan Van Wilkins on Crimesider
- Atty: Charges will not be dropped in Kaitlyn Hunt case
- Jury deliberates possible death sentence for Jodi Arias
- Fla. girl, 18, charged over underage same-sex relationship
- Iowa Cops: Man suspected of abducting 2 girls found dead
- Jodi Arias talks about suicide, what she'll do with her life in prison
- Mom of Hailey Dunn, missing teen found dead, speaks out
- Report: Dogs removed from kidnap suspect Castro's home
- Arias to jury: Alexander's death "the worst mistake of my life"
- Massive search underway for abducted teen in Iowa
- 3 teens charged with raping girl, 12, putting video on web
- Jodi Arias makes her opening statements to the jury
- Jodi Arias to speak on own behalf as jury weighs death
- Cops: NC woman tried to poison family members' cheese
- Man charged with murder in case of missing Maine girl, 15
- Report: Slain Conn. student Alyssiah Wiley found dismembered
- Cops: Barbara Walters' daughter charged with DUI in Fla.
