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One Suspect Apprehended In Lottery Store Murder
November 7, 2012
Click here for an update to this story.
(Updated 1:55 p.m.) One person is in custody in connection with the shooting death of the 75-year old owner of the State Line O’ Yes Lotto on Highway 97 in Davisville Tuesday afternoon, and authorities are continuing their search for a second suspect.
Malcolm Troy McGhee, Jr. was arrested during the early morning hours Wednesday after a search warrant was executed at a home in Escambia County, Alabama. McGhee is being held awaiting extradition back to Florida to face charges in connection with the incident.
Authorities continued their search for a second suspect throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday.
The victim was found behind the counter Tuesday suffering from a gunshot wound about 1:40 p.m. Tuesday and was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was identified as Thomas “Tommy” Kroll, the longtime owner of the small bright pink-colored store known for selling numerous winning Florida lottery tickets just yards from the Alabama state line. The store is one of the top lottery retailers in Florida.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Deputies said two tall and thin males wearing ski masks and blue jeans entered the store armed with a handgun and attempted to rob Kroll. Kroll was shot and killed “after an exchange of gunfire”, the Sheriff’s Office said. The suspects fled in an unknown direction following the shooting. K-9 units from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Century Correctional Institution were unable to locate a track on the suspects. No further description of the suspects was available.
Numerous law enforcement officers from Florida and Alabama surrounded the store and scoured the area following the shooting looking for the suspects as investigators questioned several potential witnesses.
Investigators have not said what, if anything, was taken during the robbery.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
For more about Tommy Kroll and words from his wife, click here.
Pictured: The first deputy arrived at a reported robbery and shooting at the State Line O’ Yes Lotto just a few moments after the was reported. Pictured inset: A K-9 unit from Century Correctional Institution searches for a possible suspect track. Pictured below: The search for a suspect Tuesday afternoon in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
49 Responses to “One Suspect Apprehended In Lottery Store Murder”
Kathy< My sincere condolences to you and the rest of your family. I just heard about it yesterday when I pulled in to buy lotto tickets and saw the store was closed so went across the street and asked what happened. I’ve been buying my tickets from you and Tommy for over 20 years and had been in the shop on Oct. 27. I haven’t been this sad in a long time you and Tommy were two the nicest people I’ve ever met. I’m the man that captured the orange tabby you had nursed back to health. I hope they hang the SOB’s that did this they don’t deserve to live and I wish I had been there at the time to help.
According to what we were told by Florida. It was legal.we would never do anything illegal. Some people buy the same stuff in health food stores. I’ve lost a loving husband of 44 years.His son and daughter lost their father.our beautiful grandchildren their devoted grandfather. This was a kind generous man who helped anyone who needed help.He new he would never see the money again. Anyone would tell you he was a good kind person. Yes now we said goodbye to him and he will be missed very many people but especially his family. He was our hero our rock. Please wait for all the facts to come out. And please stop defaming my husband and me. I’ve lost my soulmate and also my business which was our support. We had bills also and now I can never walk back in where my husband was murdered. My family is suffering more than enough. Just pray for all of us. Thank you to lawenforcement for being so sufficient, ,
To Tanya Jordon I cant believe you feel sorry for a murder, i dont care how old they are or there family. you really got issues lady. I hope and pray they suffer until, they are sentensed to death. dont leave such dumb crap . that was a very sweet man
Amen Tanya, young kids who did murder on a senior citizen.
I would imagine one day in the future that someone will be requesting a short leave of absence for civil duty and I would imagine that the employer will grant the leave, no questions aked, as they know that their employee has a date with someone and the wheels of justice. The exocutioner, the condemned and the needle.
To “confused”. U made a mistake moving here. It’s not law enforcements fault though. U can’t stop idiots from going in a store a shoot someone.
It is so sad and praying for the family and their loss but al so praying for the young kids that did this and their family I know the them and they come from a good family so my prayers are with you all …
To all you friends that are praying for this family THANK YOU Tommy was like a dad to me i have worked on and off for Tommy and Kathy for 30 years the family needs all your prays. Tommy will be so missed he was a careing and good man Rest in peace Tommy ……..Tammy
I worked for the Krolls when they opened Michelles Gooney Land, a putt putt place right behind Echo Lanes when I was 16. I woud go into the bowling alley to buy lunch and Mr. Kroll was just the nicest person! His daughter was a sweet person too! That was my first job and what nice people to work for! I am so sorry to hear this horrible news! God Bless the Kroll family:( I Hope they catch both of those murderers!
@Kathy Kroll
I am so sorry for your loss. I do not know either. I have so much sympathy for you and your whole family. I am sure they will find the other piece of trash in the hours to come. I hope he is apprehended without a fight. I hope both and all that is involved either they were at the scene or helping these d-bags hid all gets punished. I say again I am so sorry for your loss. I pray God be with you and your family and all the law enforcement personels involved that there is no harm to anyone else.
These total scumbags need to be thankful that I don’t make the laws! Fry ‘em!!!!! But…….I bet their family and friends will once again say:: “But they are such nice guys”. Once again…FRY ‘EM!!!
If anyone knew this man or even been into his store knew that he was a very sweet old man and you never caught him not smiling. My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with his family! Whoever did this willgt what he deserves. They WILL have to answer to God.
we just recently moved back here and now I’m wondering if I did the right thing. Am I putting my kids at risk by coming back? If the police can’t control what is going on here and the criminals have no fear of punishment or sense of right and wrong then none of us are safe. I won’t lose my kids like this family lost their beloved.
Tommy Kroll and his entire family have been a remarkable part of my life for as long as I can remember. I am so proud to have known him and learned from him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. The world lost an incredible man today. So sad.
SO SAD LORD PRAYING FOR HIS FAMILY SO SAD HOPE THEY CATCH THESE TWO KILLERS AND GIVE THEM THE CHAIR!!
I do did not know Mr Kroll, but I bowled at Echo Lanes in the 70s. He Maintained a nice facilty. I hope that they catch these killers. I am sure the law will. My condolences.
It is a brave new world people, society keeps getting more dangerous. Thank the architects and endorsers of our US Constitution for entitling us the right to bear arms and defend ourselves. We are going to have to adjust ourselves and our famalies to the growing threat of violent robbery, as best we can.
Low life just doesn’t seem far enough words for these cowards!! Yeah, COWARDS. I got my concealed weapon permit for idiots like this. Eye for an eye,,, kill them just like they killed him. They don’t deserve to breathe.
Anyone near this area or that has surveillance needs to help!! COWARDS like this need to be off the streets ASAP. Take them to hell where they belong!!
Mr. knoll you will be missed . I hope they find these two suspects very soon so this doesn’t happen again to someone else’s loved one. This was a very selfish and senseless act which I hope justice is served. I still can’t believe this has happened. I pray GOD gives Mrs. Kathy and family comfort through this difficult time.
Very sad news
GOD bless this family : (
My hubby & I were in this store this afternoon and just missed this robbery by (literally) a few short minutes. The law officers were flying by us on the way home and we had no idea what had happened until a short time later. We are thanking the good Lord for sparing us today, but we are definately shaken by this senseless crime and feel so sorry for the family of Mr. Kroll. We pray that they catch the criminals and provide some sort of closure for the family. R.I.P. Mr Kroll
This is an absolute shame. I hope and pray they catch the piece of trash or pieces of trash that were involved in this incident. What has happened to this country? I have a friend that came down recently to visit from Vancouver, BC. While here she was exposed to our local “BREAKING NEWS” broadcast every night. She was absolutely shocked at the violence she witnessed on our local news. She said they’ve had a couple serial killers that she could remember during her life and recently they’ve seen an increase in drug trafficking, but she said it is nothing like the violence she witnessed on our news. The truth is we’ve seen so much violence locally that we’ve become immune. Now we all know things such as this heartless act have happened since the beginning of time, but the number and frequency of these acts have increased every year, regardless of what the FBI statistics report. It’s sad when a visitor comes into my home and is shocked at how violent our community is and was even more shocked that the first 10 minutes of every local news broadcast is about murders, robberies and home invasions. FYI, she witness this every night during her two week stay. When will we as citiziens take back our community and quit worrying about offending someone? People need to take back this community and this country by standing up for what is right and what they believe in. Regardless of race, sex, gender or political party we know as citiziens that what we witness everyday is wrong. The time for people turning a blind eye needs to end so we can take back our community. Praying for the family and praying they catch these scum bags before they take another life.
Yes he owned echo lanes this was a great man and deserves justice if anyone has any info please come forward he would never had done anything to harm anyone
Brutus, Yes he was the owner of Echo Lanes.
Agree roxie…
So sad to hear this. I knew Mr. Kroll from my time working at the bank. He was a nice man. Praying for his family and praying that the lazy dirtbags that won’t work an honest job to support themselves and have no respect for the life of others get caught soon and that the book gets thrown at them!! RIP Mr. Kroll.
Can anyone tell me if this is the same Tommy Kroll that used to own Echo Lanes in pensacola?
It should be a swift and Painful death for Scum who kill like this.. The sad thing is that the courts will let them sit in jail on the taxpayers dollar for many years before they’re executed.. With the $25,000 bond for molesting a 106yr old and multiple repeat felons runnin the streets I would blame a large part of our crime problems on the court system we have..
Tommy Kroll was a good man, a loving husband and a great friend. He will be sadly missed. I hope the scum who killed him is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and then faces the wrath of God for this horrible sin. Rest in Peace, Tommy, justice is coming.
Roger, I agree…and there might be a little less crime if this was allowed…I would call it the “get what you give law.”
Tommy was a wonderful, loving, caring man! why couldnt they just take the money and leave?? There had to be someone that saw them leave!! please come forward and lets get these cowards locked up now!!!!
Tommy you will be missed by many that love you..
So, so sad. My heart hurts to have heard this. My husband was there around 11:30 today and ALWAYS enjoyed talking to the owners. Praying for the family and that they find the scumbags soon!!!!!!!!!!!
They will catch them. If there were 2 ppl one will make a deal. ” The only way 2 people can keep a secret, is if one of them is dead”.
So sorry to hear about this. Hopefully they will be locked up soon!!
Roger, as good as your comment sounds under the judicial system that would be considered cruel and unusual punishment. Don’t get me wrong I agree with you!
It’s a shame that hard working people trying to earn a living can’t go to work and do their job without worrying about SCUM bags like this. I pray that the Scum bags that done this are caught and justice is served. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family that lost a loved one today. It was a senseless act and someone that was trying to provide for their family had to pay the price for some sorry person that wouldn’t get out and get a real job. I guess you thought it would be easier to rob a place and take a person’s life than to get out and get a job and make an honest living!
Prayers for the family . So sorry to read this sad story.
I’m sure someone knows who did this. Please turn them in now.
We feel like we live in a safe community until something like this happens.
Please be aware that a tragedy could happen anywhere, at any time. We cannot let our guard down and be complacent.
They have surveillance cameras there. Hope they were working.
God Bless the Families affected by this tragedy. I pray our little slice of Heaven recovers soon. Praying for Peace and Tranquility back in North Escambia!
My prayers for the family of the victim. Senseless loss. How much money could have been in that small store. Hopefully the men who did this will be caught, convicted and quickly dispatched to the devil.
I hope they catch the 2 cowards that did this and hang them by thier balls while the family and friends of the victim beat them to death.
With so much violence everywhere, I worry about just walking into a store or gas station night, now its not save duringthe day either. Sad state of affairs. With six grandkids, I worry for the future of our society. Is there a safe rural America anymore? I’m beginning to wonder.
Almost pursued a job here… Prayers for the familys they where sweet people.
Well folks….its right here at our front door…violence at its worst…drugs no doubt led to this…its a terrible world we live in…we need to pray for the ones affected by this..it is just terrible…this could happen to any of us at anytime
It’s sad when you can’t even go to work without some damn skum bag coming in and killing you!!!
If these scumbags had one shred of decency they would turn themselves in, but we all know that is not going to happen so hunt them down, and give them the death sentence…sorry excuses for human beings…
I just don’t understand why people think they have the right to end another persons life. I hope that the person (s) responsible for this injustice are caught and brought to justice.
this is insane
Nice people that work there. I hope they find whoever did this and hang em high !
So sad to hear that. It’s a shame that they were killed when they were trying to make a living, while the low lifes will probably never be found
It’s a shame that people can’t work for an honest living anymore, without having to worry about scum like this coming in and killing them over a few dollars. I sure hope they capture who did this and gives them the death penalty. They don’t deserve to live in our society if they can commit a crime like this to an innocent hard worker.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE PEACE AND QUIET OF THE AREA. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE BEST PALCE TO LIVE ON EATH OR IN MY MIND I THINK SO. WHY IS ALL OF THIS HAPPENING SO CLOSE TO HOME.