Surprise Plea From Man Accused Of Shooting Former Century Resident In Face

March 21, 2010

In a surprise move, a Bay Minette teen entered a no contest plea in court on charges that he shot a Century native in the face last June.

mcarthurellis.jpgEllis Jarel McArthur, 18, of Bay Minette, Ala., entered the no contest plea to second degree murder in Escambia County Circuit Court. McArthur was charged with the shooting death of  Jeffrey Kimbrough, 41, of Pensacola. Kimbrough was a former resident of Century. McArthur will remain in the Escambia County Jail without bond until he is sentenced on May 12.

Kimbrough was born in Century and attended Century Elementary and Carver Middle school. During the time he lived in Century, Kimbrough was a member of Century Volunteer Fire Department where he obtained the rank of captain. After moving from Century, he served as a volunteer for the Pensacola Fire Department. He was employed the last five years at the Pensacola Civic Center.

He was survived by his wife of 24 years Clara Ann Nettle; children Bridgett, Leroca, Elandarge and Tamara; mother Carrie Kimbrough; four brothers and three sisters. His funeral was held at New Life Baptist Church in Century, and internment was in the Century Cemetery.

Kimbrough was shot June 14, 2009, in the 1500 block of Gulf Beach Highway in the Warrington community in the southwest part of the county. The incident occurred at the Heritage Oaks Mobile Home Park, which had been without water for about a week due to a bill that the park owner did not pay to the Peoples Water Service.

Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies said Kimbrough confronted McArthur about a stolen wallet. That is when, according to deputies, McArthur pulled out a handgun and shot Kimbrough in the face. Kimbrough died a short time later at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.

The shooting incident occurred not far from where members of Pensacola’s First Assembly of God Church were holding services, grilling hot dogs and giving away water to the trailer park residents. Several members of the church witnessed the shooting.

Comments

5 Responses to “Surprise Plea From Man Accused Of Shooting Former Century Resident In Face”

  1. LDK on March 25th, 2010 6:38 pm

    I worked shoulder to shoulder with mr kimbrouh for several years run seveal calls as well he was a close friend a great family man an honest to the core i hope killer gets the ounishment he deserves for the crime he did .he will always be missed an never forgotten

  2. hellbilly on March 23rd, 2010 12:17 pm

    eye for an eye tooth for tooth would be great

  3. j on March 21st, 2010 7:38 pm

    jeffery, you are missed through out the area, and the shooter deserves life in prison for doen something stupid, there could have been another way around it instead of shooting him over something like that. HE NEEDS LIFE IN PRISON !! he had kids and for there daddy to got like that, i think it was hard.

  4. Angi on March 21st, 2010 8:35 am

    I did not know Mr. Kimbrough, but he sounds like a very nice and respectable man; my heart goes out to all of his family and friends… I do hope that justice is served!

  5. sad on March 21st, 2010 12:27 am

    Mr.Jeffery was a very nice man I had got to know him through the century fire department and he was one of a kind…and he loved to help people and he was a great fireman!!! I hope justice is served!!!