MOBILE, AL — A man charged in connection with a fatal shooting outside an Alabama bar is claiming self-defense, as new details surfaced during a preliminary hearing on Tuesday. The incident, which occurred on February 1 outside the Alabama Bar & Lounge, left 22-year-old Hunter Lins dead and another man injured.
According to the Mobile Police Department, officers responded to reports of a shooting and found Lins and another victim with gunshot wounds. Lins was transported to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. The second victim survived. Matthew Sanders was arrested and charged with murder and first-degree assault in connection with the shooting.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Sanders’ attorney, Jeff Deen, argued that his client acted in self-defense after being attacked. Deen claimed that surveillance footage shows Sanders being “jumped on” by Lins and others before the shooting occurred. However, Lins’ stepsister, Kelsie Harvell, disputed this claim, stating that the shooting was avoidable and not an act of self-defense.
A homicide detective testified that witnesses reported an argument between Sanders and Lins inside the bar near the pool table. A bartender allegedly instructed Sanders to leave the bar, and Lins followed him outside to apologize. Once outside, a physical altercation broke out between Sanders and Lins, with Lins’ brother, known as “Rusty,” also getting involved. Rusty claimed he tried to break up the fight, but Sanders retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and opened fire.
Deen countered this narrative, asserting that Sanders was attacked by the two brothers and acted in self-defense. “He got jumped on at a bar. He left when he was told to, but then a crowd followed him outside and continued the fight,” Deen said. “I’m sorry someone got shot, but he brought it on himself.”
The detective noted during testimony that Lins had a beer bottle during the altercation but discarded it before being shot, leaving him unarmed. Harvell questioned Sanders’ self-defense claim, asking, “If he was able to open his car door to grab a gun and shoot two people, why wasn’t he able to get in the car and leave?”
Prosecutors also revealed that Sanders allegedly posted a video on Snapchat after the shooting, waving a gun and saying, “I told y’all to leave me alone… and to quit playing with me.” Investigators confirmed that the firearm in the video matched the weapon recovered at the crime scene.
Sanders’ defense requested a bond reduction during the hearing, but the judge denied the motion. He remains in custody at Metro Jail with a $250,000 bond. The case is now headed to a grand jury for further review.
The tragic incident has left the Mobile community in shock, as they mourn the loss of Hunter Lins and seek justice for the victims. As the case progresses, questions about self-defense, accountability, and the escalation of violence remain at the forefront.