Teen son of man killed by police on I-459 seeks help with burial costs, lost grandparents to violence
The teen son of a man fatally shot by police on Interstate 459 in Hoover is asking for help burying his father.
Christopher “Grant” Hulgan, 44, died on the side of the interstate Tuesday night when investigators say he led multiple police agencies on a pursuit and then pointed a gun at officers.
In 2022, Grant Hulgan’s parents, Bernice Owens Hulgan, 67, and Louis “Grant” Hulgan, 68, were found dead in a murder-suicide in their McCalla home. His father was a former world champion skeet shooter and coach of the University of Alabama’s skeet shooting team.
“His parents, my Mimi and Pawpaw, shared custody of me with my Nana and raised me,’’ 19-year-old Austin Hulgan wrote in a GoFundMe. “I lost my Mimi and Pawpaw in August 2022 and just lost my Nana on January 10th, 2025.”
“Now, less than one month later, I have lost my father,’’ Austin wrote. “I am only 19 and don’t make enough money to pay to have a funeral and have him buried.”
Donations to the GoFundMe can be made here.
Christopher “Grant” Hulgan, 44, died on Tuesday night when investigators say he led multiple police agencies on a pursuit and then pointed a gun at officer. He is shown here in an older photo with his son, who is now 19 and asking for help burying his father.(GoFundMe)
The deadly shooting followed a chase that began in Alabaster and ended in gunfire on I-459 northbound between the Riverchase Galleria and Highway 150 exits.
Alabaster police officers were dispatched about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday to a domestic violence call in the 1800 block of Woodbrook Trail, said Police Chief Curtis Rigney in a press release. Details of the domestic violence incident have not been released.
When officers arrived, Hulgan fled the scene and led officers on a pursuit.
The chase ended on I-459 in Hoover when Hulgan, driving a Mercedes sedan, crashed in the woods line and exited his car with a gun, according to police officials with Hoover, Alabaster and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
“Hulgan exited the vehicle brandishing a firearm,’’ ALEA officials said in a Friday statement about the incident.”
An armed domestic violence suspect was fatally shot by police after leading officers on a chase from Alabaster to Hoover. The suspect crashed between the Riverchase Galleria and Highway 150 exits.(Carol Robinson)
Hoover police said their 911 center received notification at 10:50 p.m. that the chase was headed their way.
Officers fired at Hulgan when he pointed the gun at them, police said.
Law enforcement officers attempted life-saving measures.
Hulgan was put into an ambulance but was then pronounced dead at 11:14 p.m. on the scene by Hoover fire medics.
An armed domestic violence suspect was fatally shot by police after leading officers on a chase from Alabaster to Hoover. The suspect crashed between the Riverchase Galleria and Highway 150 exits.(Carol Robinson)
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene, including Alabaster police, Hoover police, West Blocton police, Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
No officers were injured.
All officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol following an officer-involved shooting.
ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe.
ALEA Lt. Jeremy Burkett said once complete, the findings will be turned over to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office for review.