An Alabama football fan has been charged with murder in the death of an Auburn fan. Authorities believe the shooting erupted during a fight over the game between the bitter rivals.
Richard Nicholas, who supported Auburn, was killed by a shotgun blast a few hours after No. 3 Alabama's 21-14 victory Saturday over previously undefeated and now ninth-ranked Tigers, authorities said. Michael Smith, a loyal Crimson Tide fan who is now married to Nicholas' ex-wife, was charged with murder.Authorities said Nicholas was killed by a blast from a 12-gauge shotgun Saturday outside Smith's Mobile home in rural west Alabama.
"It appears (Smith) had been ragging (Nicholas) about Alabama winning the game," Butler County sheriff's department investigator Terry Mullins said Monday.
Mullins said Nicholas, 35, watched the game at a friend's house. He returned home to find eggs and black shoe polish splattered on his car and toilet paper strewn in nearby trees, Mullins said.