Man Pleads Not Guilty To Shooting Fleeing Son On Riding Lawn Mower

July 23, 2014

A Walnut Hill man has pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing for allegedly shooting his son on a riding lawn mower.

Marshall H. Harmon, 71, was charged with aggravated battery using a deadly weapon for the June 27 incident on Breastworks Road about a mile west of North Pine Barren Road.

Harmon and his 32-year old son had become involved in a verbal altercation at a nearby home, deputies said. The son then fled on Breastworks Road on a riding lawn mower, the father following in his pickup truck.

When the elder Harmon pulled alongside his son on the riding mower, Harmon fired two shots in the son’s direction, according to Sgt. Andrew Hobbs, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.  It did not immediately appear that Harmon intended to shoot his son, but may have instead accidentally hit him.

One of the shots hit the son in the neck, but the officials said the wound was not life threatening.  The son was airlifted by Lifeguard helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.

Harmon was taken into custody without incident at the scene of the shooting. He was released from the Escambia County Jail June 30 on a $25,000 bond. He is due back in court in for a hearing in mid-October, and his jury trial is set to begin in late October.

Pictured top: Suspect Marshall Harmon stands against his truck (far left background) as an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy (center)  checks a weapon Harmon allegedly used to shoot his son June 27 on Breastworks Road. Pictured bottom inset: A deputy explains charges to Harmon. Pictured bottom: The shooting victim was airlifted from a field on Breastworks Road to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.

Comments

18 Responses to “Man Pleads Not Guilty To Shooting Fleeing Son On Riding Lawn Mower”

  1. David Huie Green on July 26th, 2014 10:50 am

    Corrina,
    And if he missed the tires, what MIGHT he hit?
    Was he a sharpshooter who never missed?
    If the slug struck the tire, would it stop immediately or could it ricochet?

    I believe in the rights of American citizens to keep and bearms, but wish more knew what they were doing when using them

    David for reality

  2. Corrina on July 26th, 2014 1:10 am

    David he shot at the tires.. NOT AIMED AT PERSON.. so ya there WAS NO INTENT to harm

  3. David Huie Green on July 25th, 2014 9:05 am

    Corinna,
    If there is NO INTENT to harm, your husband shouldn’t be shooting at folks.
    If I shoot, I intend to kill; I’m not a good enough shot to just wound.

    David for understanding

  4. Shana on July 24th, 2014 9:44 am

    Ok so I know both parties VERY WELL. And all I can say is to Pop I love ya but what u did was wrong. I understand that dusty was asking for trouble but u don’t pull a gun on a person unless you mean to hurt someone. I’m sorry for the both u and dusty. I hope y’all will b ok

  5. Corrina Henschen on July 23rd, 2014 9:13 pm

    i’m sorry to say even if he didnt mean to do any harm he will still end up doing 20 years…even if there is no intent.. florida’s 10-20 life law will come into play just like it did to my husband this last week…. he got into an altercation with our exroommates, they hit him with a truck made him fly into the road and he saw lights and thought they were coming back for him.. the jury found him guilty and now thanks to that stupid law he is now doing 40 years.. and he doesnt even have ANY PRIORS n there was NO INTENT to harm…

  6. Kane on July 23rd, 2014 9:03 pm

    He will get life for this the 10 20 life law is straight forward no bs and carries a mandatory sentencing structure so rigid that judges get no say in the sentencing.
    He will most likely be charged with assault with a firearm.

  7. well on July 23rd, 2014 6:44 pm

    While he probably did not intentionally hit his son, he did point towards him and pull the trigger.
    Glad my dad never had a reason to be so sweet to me.

  8. Michelle on July 23rd, 2014 11:32 am

    Marshall, we love you and it will be OK. Not everyone is against you. You have a lot of love and support <3

  9. Deonta Davison on July 23rd, 2014 11:17 am

    he shot him in the neck he was tryin to kill him, they should of charged him with attempted murder with no bond… believe that

  10. Terri Sanders on July 23rd, 2014 7:28 am

    It seems to me that if you have a loaded gun,point it at something, then pull the trigger you meant to shoot something…issues a person might have has nothing to do with one’s actions unless you or someone else are being threatened with bodily harm.

  11. David on July 23rd, 2014 5:57 am

    To those who think the man ” deserved to be shot” – what if some thought you deserve to be shot. Amazing mentality.We all should go around killing people because we think they deserve to be shot….

  12. SHO-NUFF on July 23rd, 2014 5:53 am

    I imagine he was fed up. Sick and tired of being sick and tired….
    I have raised 3 kids, 2 are doing OK and one has decided to live a life of crime and drugs.
    It’s his decision he made to be a con artist and drug addict. I still try and be good to him, at least feed him.. but if he ever gets in my face and disrespects me, I imagine I will make the headlines of the news also.
    He has tried this old man once and ended up with knots on his head.
    And yes, shooting my own Son has crossed my mind at times when he is showing his butt. I thank the good Lord each time we have had issues in the past to keep me strong and sensible.
    Like my Daddy used to tell me, I brought you into this world and I will take you out if i need to.

  13. Jane on July 23rd, 2014 5:09 am

    He may be a “sweet man” but he chased someone and shot them. Big mistake.

  14. Trina C on July 23rd, 2014 1:18 am

    The son got what he deserved. The son has issues and had just been barred by me from the local watering hole. God bless Mr. Harmon and good luck to you sir.

  15. Caraway Bandit on July 23rd, 2014 1:03 am

    Yeah, I guess if you consider shooting at someone “sweet”, he’s a pretty swell guy!

  16. Will on July 23rd, 2014 12:59 am

    Quote— “He is the sweetest man you can ever know. He will go out of his way to help anyone”.

    Yet he chased down a guy who was on a riding lawn mower and fired two shots him, striking him at least one time in the neck.

    It’s gonna be really hard to convince people that he meant no harm, considering one of the basic rules in firearm safety is to never point a gun at anything you don’t intend to destroy and he fired at least TWO shots.

  17. oneman on July 23rd, 2014 12:49 am

    i just talked to him yesterday for along time he is a great man and i think that they need to get all of that fax

  18. tammy boyington on July 23rd, 2014 12:41 am

    I know this man very well. He is my brother inlaw and he would not hurt anyone. He is the sweetest man you can every know. He will go all out of his way to help anyone.