While hundreds of Tiger football fans may have joked of violent schemes against Alabama fans Saturday night, one encounter in Alabama actually turned violent.According to the Conecuh County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama, LSU fans 39-year-old Donna Kaye Hall Smith and 40-year-old Dennis James Smith were shot dead in the rural community of Owassa after an altercation, which witnesses say, erupted over the Tigers’ loss to the Crimson Tide.The Conecuh County Sheriff’s office received a call reporting the shooting around 7:29 p.m. and responded to the residence of 28-year-old Michael W. Williams. There, police discovered the bodies of the slain and arrested Williams for two counts of felony murder.After LSU’s loss, the Smiths reportedly went to Williams’ residence where he and other Alabama fans had been watching the game. Authorities said Donna Smith was a relative of Williams’ girlfriend.According to witnesses, a physical fight began between Dennis Smith and Williams and eventually led to the shooting. Investigators said Smith had a pistol, but Williams’ shotgun was responsible for the incident.Though witnesses at Williams’ residence said the fight began over the results of Saturday night’s football game, Conecuh County detectives are still investigating the motivation.Some LSU students said Monday they were amazed to hear fans could be so violent.”It’s just a game,” said Devin Poirrier, mechanical engineering freshman. “I understand there is a rivalry, but to take it as far as killing someone is just insane.”Megan Jimenez, kinesiology senior, was at the game Saturday night and heard the violent jeers from the crowd inside and outside the stadium. Still, she said she didn’t understand how the situation could come to gunfire.”I’m pretty shocked,” Jimenez said. “Football is a big deal in the South, but I don’t think that it should ever come to that kind of violence.”Some students were less surprised that a heated rivalry could become so bloody.Brent Mayeaux, mechanical engineering freshman, said while he thought it was a shame to see people taking such extreme action, he wasn’t surprised after hearing the way people were talking after the game.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Two dead after alleged LSU-‘Bama altercation
November 10, 2008