2 Shot Near Western Hills Mall

JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL — A shooting early Monday in Jefferson County morning left two victims hospitalized. The incident occurred just after 1 a.m. near Western Hills Mall.

Sgt. Joni Money of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said a deputy was on patrol and heard gunshots near the mall, then witnessed a vehicle leave the roadway, strike a tree and come to a rest near the 7200 block of Aaron Aranov Drive.

Both of the occupants of the vehicle, a 35-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, had been shot, Money said. The man had life-threatening injuries, but the woman's injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. Both were taken to UAB Hospital.

Charles Porch, 37, was taken into custody Monday afternoon and has been charged with 2 counts of attempted murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle. His bonds total $135,000.