BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) – A domestic dispute in Fairhope, Baldwin County, turned deadly on June 14, 2025, leaving one person dead and another seriously injured, authorities said.
At approximately 11:05 p.m., deputies responded to a call on Dominion Drive involving two injured residents. Both victims were airlifted to a Pensacola hospital for emergency treatment. One later died from their injuries, while the other remains hospitalized.
The suspect, 38-year-old Ryan Thomas Smith, fled before deputies arrived. Officers located his vehicle on Interstate 65 and initiated a pursuit. The chase ended in Escambia County after deputies used the Grappler System to safely stop Smith’s car. Smith was arrested without further incident.
Smith is now charged with murder and attempted murder. He was booked into the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Corrections Center on a no-bond status. Law enforcement confirmed no other suspects are involved, and the public faces no additional safety risks.
A heavy police presence remains on Dominion Drive as the investigation continues. Authorities have withheld the victims’ names pending family notification. For updates, contact Captain Daniel Steelman of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
