The somber echoes of a fatal altercation outside a Mobile, Alabama bar now reverberate through the legal system as a man claims self-defense in a shooting that resulted in the death of Hunter Lins. The incident, which unfolded on February 1st at the Alabama Bar & Lounge, has ignited a contentious debate about the line between justifiable action and criminal culpability.

The night in question saw Mobile Police responding to reports of gunfire, only to discover that Lins and another individual had been shot following a confrontation. Lins later succumbed to his injuries in a local hospital. Matthew Sanders was apprehended and subsequently charged with murder and first-degree assault, setting the stage for a legal battle that has now reached the grand jury phase.

A preliminary hearing held Tuesday morning provided a glimpse into the complexities of the case, revealing conflicting narratives surrounding the events that transpired. Jeff Deen, Sanders’ attorney, presented a defense rooted in the assertion that his client acted in self-defense after being subjected to a physical assault. Deen indicated that video evidence exists to substantiate his claim, stating, “We got to figure out how that all happened, but it’s obvious it happened to the kid because he was jumping on my client.”
However, Kelsie Harvell, Lins’ stepsister, vehemently refuted this characterization of events. She argued that Sanders had ample opportunity to disengage from the confrontation and avoid resorting to lethal force. “No, I do not see this as self-defense. This definitely could have been avoided at all costs,” Harvell declared. Her perspective highlighted a critical point of contention: whether Sanders’ actions were a necessary response to an imminent threat or an unnecessary escalation of violence.

Testimony from a Mobile Police Department homicide detective further illuminated the sequence of events leading up to the shooting. Witnesses reported that Sanders and Lins were involved in an argument inside the bar, near the pool table. The detective stated that Lins had a beer bottle during the altercation, but that he subsequently threw it away. Harvell emphasized that after discarding the bottle, Lins was left unarmed and defenseless. She also questioned why, if Sanders genuinely feared for his life, he did not simply leave the scene. “If he’s able to open the door of his vehicle to pull out a gun and turn to fire that weapon shooting two people…how was he not able to open that door get in that vehicle and leave?” she asked, challenging the notion of self-defense.

Adding another layer of complexity to the case is a video reportedly posted by Sanders on Snapchat after the shooting. In the video, Sanders is seen brandishing a firearm and making statements such as, “I told ya’ll to leave me alone…and to quit playing with me.” The detective testified that the gun depicted in the video was the same weapon recovered from the scene of the shooting. This piece of evidence has been presented as a key component of the prosecution’s case, suggesting a premeditated and intentional act of violence rather than a spontaneous reaction to a perceived threat.

During the hearing, a motion was also presented to reduce Sanders’ bond, but the judge denied the request. He remains in Metro Jail on a $250,000 bond, awaiting the grand jury’s decision. The grand jury will now review the evidence and determine whether there is sufficient cause to indict Sanders on the charges of murder and first-degree assault. The outcome of their deliberations will significantly impact the trajectory of the case, shaping the legal proceedings and the ultimate resolution of this tragic incident. The community now awaits the grand jury’s decision, as the legal process continues to unfold and the search for justice moves forward.