A fugitive wanted in connection with a Texas murder case was killed Tuesday morning in Pine Hill, Alabama, during an attempted arrest by members of a U.S. Marshals Service task force.
Ernest Christopher Nathan, 47, was fatally shot on September 22, 2026, after authorities said a task force officer came under gunfire while officers were attempting to take him into custody at a residence on Ruby Drive in Marengo County.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the incident happened at approximately 6 a.m. Officers returned fire after one of their members was shot at, and Nathan was struck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The task force officer who was injured was taken to a nearby hospital. Authorities said the officer is expected to recover fully, although the officer’s identity and agency have not been released.
Nathan Was Wanted in Texas
Nathan had been listed among the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 10 Most Wanted fugitives.
Authorities in Texas were seeking him in connection with a murder case in Harris County. Records indicate that Nathan had previously been arrested in Houston in October 2022 and was released on bond the following day.
A warrant was subsequently issued after he failed to appear.
His location in Pine Hill led members of the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force to the Ruby Drive residence where the fatal confrontation occurred.
Investigation Underway
The circumstances surrounding the shooting are now being examined by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation.
The investigation was requested by the U.S. Marshals Service and will be forwarded to the Marengo County District Attorney’s Office once the investigative process is completed.
Authorities have not provided a detailed account of what happened immediately before the exchange of gunfire or explained the sequence of events leading to the officer being struck.
The identities of the officers involved have also not been fully disclosed.
Pine Hill Shooting Leaves One Officer Injured
The incident brought a law-enforcement operation to a fatal conclusion while also leaving one task force member hospitalized.
Officials have indicated that the injured officer is expected to make a full recovery. Further details about the officer’s injuries have not been released.
Nathan’s death remains part of an active investigation, and additional information may be released as investigators establish the circumstances of the encounter.
For now, the case remains under review by Alabama investigators, with the final findings expected to be provided to the Marengo County District Attorney’s Office.
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