FOLEY - A woman eluded a gunshot fired by her ex-husband Monday night and killed him with a return shot from her own pistol, authorities said Tuesday.

William Franklin Lewis, 46, was shot in the chest shortly before midnight, staggered out of the Deborah Court house of his ex-wife and collapsed on the porch next door. He was pronounced dead at 1:07 a.m., said Baldwin County Deputy Coroner Stan Vinson.

The gun battle appears to have been the culmination of months of escalating conflict between Lewis and his former wife, whom court records identify as Lori Lewis.

As of Tuesday night, Foley police had not arrested Lewis, and no charges had been filed against her, authorities said.

Court records show that Lori Lewis had filed three harassment complaints since March and had gotten a protective court order. In addition, William Lewis was charged with stalking in April and was out of jail on a $5,000 bond.

"It seems to have escalated in the last few months," Foley Police Lt. Richard Springsteen said.

Monday's death was the second domestic-related homicide in Foley since April. That month, Mack Junior Bloodsworth was charged in connection with the stabbing death of his 70-year-old wife.

On Monday, according to police, William Lewis entered his ex-wife's back porch and attacked her.

"He drug her inside. He was armed with a weapon. She was able to get to a weapon," Springsteen said. "There were shots from both guns."

Springsteen said Lori Lewis, 44, was not hit with a bullet but did receive cuts and bruises in the scuffle. He said she was able to get away from William Lewis long enough to reach her bedroom, where she retrieved her handgun.

William Lewis followed her and she shot him, Springsteen said. He said investigators believe she fired just one shot.

"She was trying to calm him down. I don't think it was working too well," he said.

Alabama law allows a person to use deadly force to protect his or her life or that of another. Springsteen said police will turn over information about the case to a grand jury, which will make a final determination about whether deadly force was justified.

Springsteen said the couple were married for about 10 years and had no children. Court records indicate they were divorced in November 1999.

Police and court records paint a picture of mounting legal problems for William Lewis.

Lori Lewis applied for a protective order in February, which was granted in March, according to court records.

He was arrested April 25 and charged with stalking her near her place of employment in Gulf Shores.

William Lewis was scheduled to appear in court June 8 to answer accusations that the stalking charge constituted a violation of the protective order.

In addition, Springsteen said, Lori Lewis filed harassment complaints against her ex-husband in March and April and made a third complaint in April in Gulf Shores.

Springsteen said it often is difficult for a woman to protect herself from a determined stalker who wants to harm her. In this case, he said, it appears the woman took the right steps by applying for a protective order and making harassment complaints.

Often, women call police but then decline to press charges, Springsteen said. That is why the Legislature changed the law, allowing police to make an arrest if they see evidence of domestic violence, even if the victim does not want to go forward, he said.

Source: Mobile Register