BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Top Photo: File Photo from an earlier hearing regarding the case against Hunter Tatum of Prattville.
Both the prosecution and defense rested their evidentiary cases this afternoon in the Autauga County Capital Murder trial of Hunter Tatum.
Court will resume Wednesday, with closing arguments and jurors are expected to begin deliberations immediately following.
Hunter Tatum is accused of shooting his pregnant wife, Summer, twice in the head in their Prattville home in October of 2021. Summer later died at a Montgomery hospital. The couple’s son, Everett, was delivered by emergency surgery but also passed away.
The trial began last week before Senior Circuit Judge Ben Fuller, with multiple witnesses testifying for the prosecution. Only one witness was called by the defense, that being Hunter Tatum. He admitted to shooting Summer, but claims it was in self-defense.
Evidence presented showed Summer was six months pregnant at the time of the shooting.
While on stand, Hunter recounted how just days before the shooting his “sexting” relationship with a woman from England was discovered by Summer. He said he had apologized for the inappropriate relationship and was hoping they could move forward.
However, just after midnight on the day of the shooting, Hunter called 911 saying he had shot his wife. First responders including Prattville Police and Prattville Fire medics arrived on scene. Jurors were shown multiple videos of the crime scene. Once medics arrived on scene Summer was transferred to a Montgomery hospital.
Jurors also watched a security camera video with audio that was taken outside from a patio. In that audio evidence, there are quiet voices which are mostly inaudible. Then what is believed to be Summer’s voice screaming, and begging for Hunter to not kill her. Hunter’s voice can be heard shouting “Stop” and “Get away.” Summer is heard screaming she will not leave him, and will do whatever he wants.
Then two gunshots can be heard followed by silence. In less than a minute following the shots fired, Hunter can be heard calling 911.
On Friday, jurors watched the initial interview with Hunter and Prattville Police investigators, where he admitted shooting Summer, but only after she had first drawn the same gun on him. He claimed Summer had calmly told him she was going to kill him, that he would pay for what he had done. He said he was able to wrestle the gun away from Summer, but feared she would kill him by retrieving one of many other guns in the home.
At one point during the struggle Summer fell and as she was trying to get up, Hunter said he shot her, but he did not remember how many times. He claimed she was moving in the direction of a gun safe where multiple other guns were stored in a closet. In his interview with investigators, Hunter said he felt it was “either her or me” and he “didn’t want to die.”
Hunter admitted on the stand he had possession of the gun at the time of the shooting.
The prosecution argued that Hunter could have run from the home at that point, but Hunter said he didn’t feel he could do that before Summer retrieved another gun.
According to a medical examiner who testified today, there were two shots to Summer’s head. The first shot appeared to be rat shot and would not have been a fatal inury. It was the second round fired, which was a slug from a .38 revolver, that caused what would be fatal injuries. Both shots were from the same gun.
It was an emotional day in the courtroom, as Hunter began crying on the stand, as well as many in the audience and some jurors.
If found guilty, Hunter could face the death penalty or life in prison. The same jurors empaneled for the trial will also decide Hunter’s final sentence if he is found guilty.
The EAN will be in the courtroom Wednesday for closing arguments.
