Published: December 10, 2018

OFFICIALS WITH THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC SCIENCES HAVE IDENTIFIED THE MAN WHO DIED IN A HOUSE FIRE LAST WEEK WHILE IN A STANDOFF WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AS EDWARD HOWARD.  THE TIMES DAILY REPORTS HOWARD'S BODY WAS FOUND INSIDE A HOUSE IN THE LOCUST SHORES COMMUNITY ON DECEMBER 4TH.  OFFICERS ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE 42 YEAR OLD IN CUSTODY BEFORE HE RAN INTO A RESIDENCE WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE APPROXIMATELY 90 MINUTES LATER.  LAW ENFORCEMENT HAD BEEN TRYING TO LOCATE HOWARD FOR SOME TIME AND HAD JUST RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT HE WAS AT THE LOCATION WHERE THEY CONFRONTED HIM BEFORE HE BARRICADED HIMSELF.  TWO OFFICERS SUFFERED SOME BURNS, CUTS AND SCRAPES FROM THEIR EFFORTS IN TRYING TO GET HOWARD OUT OF THE HOUSE BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.