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Man Shoots At Deputy In Cantonment Before Armed Standoff
September 18, 2015
An 19-year old Cantonment man opened fire on an Escambia County deputy Thursday night before a nearly two hour standoff.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1500 block of Crystal Drive to assist EMS after the 19-year-old’s family thought he was having a heart attack. Sheriff David Morgan said the family believed the man had ingested some type of narcotics, possibly LSD.
The suspect, later identified as Christopher Allen Payne, kicked his family out of the home, and he fired about six shots from a rifle at an arriving deputy. The deputy was not struck.
Payne then barricaded himself inside the home with two rifles and a shotgun. The Sheriff’s Department SWAT team was called to assist, and neighboring homes were evacuated as a precaution.
The Sheriff’s Office set up their mobile command unit, first near Ascend Performance Materials and then at the Gulf Coast Baptist Church on Chemstrand Road at Wiggins Lane, just a short distance from the standoff.
A Sheriff’s Office hostage negotiator was able to reach Payne on the phone and establish a rapport, Morgan said. Payne was eventually talked into a peaceful surrender.
Payne was transported to an area hospital for evaluation and then booked into the Escambia County Jail about 12:50 a.m. Friday on a charge of felony assault with a deadly weapon against a law enforcement officer.
“We will work with the family and the judicial system to get him the help that he needs,” Morgan said.
Pictured top and inset: The scene on Crystal Drive in Cantonment Thursday night after a 19-year opened fire with a rifle on an Escambia County deputy. Pictured below: The Sheriff’s Office mobile command unit, an Escambia County EMS unit leaving the scene following the suspect’s surrender, and deputies on scene on Crystal Drive. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
35 Responses to “Man Shoots At Deputy In Cantonment Before Armed Standoff”
I’ve known Chris since he was very young. One of my Siblings played football with him and so I’ve gotten to know him very well. This is not Chris that we all know. Chris is a good guy. He’s sweet and respectful. This is the result of a bad trip. I’m glad you’re getting help and you’re getting better. I’m praying for you Chris
If his family can get a very good lawyer, he will get outta this with probation, I bet.
Without the great barrister I fear for him, he would not do well in prison. 
REGARDING:
” he also did not shoot at a police cruiser ”
As was mentioned elsewhere:
” he fired about six shots from a rifle at an arriving deputy. The deputy was not struck.”
Since people arrive by vehicle, yes, he was shooting at the cruiser even if poorly.
David for bad shots
(if they’re shooting at me)
@Rod the article clearly states “and he fired about six shots from a rifle at an arriving deputy.” I take this to mean the deputy was “arriving” in a vehicle most likely a cruiser so yes he fired shots at an occupied vehicle that sir is a felony action.I know because my brother was just sentenced to 20 years for the same thing only it was not a cruiser it was at a truck that had struck him that he fired at.
Thank God all went well. As we all know many LEO’S have died in August and this month alone. We can make excuses for this kid. Saint or Sinner, a felony was committed. He has to be held accountable. For you people to make excuses. Did you ever stop to think. What if that deputy got injured or even killed and he was your husband, brother, dad, son, etc. Would you suggest he get help or get the death penalty. No excuses people.
LSD is in my opinion a bad drug, there is nothing to be gained through hallucination.
Some of Sheriff Morgan’s predecessors would have just called out their shooter, and put a .223 or .308 through Mr Payne’s brain.
When you acknowledge there are potentially homicidal people around us, it is fascinating to propose disarmament. You know you can not disarm all. (Consider Iraq.) Never assume you can end all evil. Never assume the government will always be on time, on your side, effective. Note: avoid mind~degrading drugs; you ARE responsible for any harm which follows. . . . . . . . . . . David for sanity
How many more drug behaviors do we as a community have to go through before we wake up and do something about it? We have had several children / young adults hurt themselves and others while under the influence. All the while in most cases someone knows they use drugs / alcohol…but are too afraid to speak up / turn them in / or whatever the case may be. Thank the Lord no one was hurt in this particular case…especially our law enforcement. So please…everyone…support your community activity events that promote and provide positive behavior elements for our youth, be it Church, sports, or club / school activities. Work hard at being the role model for them to come to when they do make or are influenced by bad choice elements.
I’m confused by the comments. I want to make sure I’m understanding, I’m reading quite a few sympathetic comments that seem to excuse his actions because he was allegedly on LSD. I highly doubt he was forced to ingest any illegal substance. There are consequences to every decision someone makes. Just because no one was hurt does not make the things that occurred ok or excusable. This situation could have been a real tragedy if the shots fired hit someone there responding, a family member, or a neighboring home where families thought they were safely sleeping. Would the drugs be to blame then? Or would it be the person who chose to take them?
When a man intentionally fires 6 rounds at a law enforcement officer, it’s NOT a “mistake”.
I’m amazed at the lengths you all are going to in order to avoid placing responsibility squarely where it belongs…on the guy doing the shooting!
Hell of a football player, OJ Simpson was too. Sounds to me like everyone has an excuse for themselves or others,surely this man knew that dope alters your way of thinking and behavior. Let’s not forget that dope dose not seek humans,humans seek dope and know the consequences beforehand.
people on here are all twisting the truth he is a good kid not a thug at all he also did not shoot at a police cruiser or on acollege campus he was nowhere near one don’t judge people over there mistakes he was under the influence of a bad substance
Glad this ended well. Good job ECSO!!. I don’t get some of these comments though, LSD is NOT a narcotic. Yes, it is still being made. Did I miss another article about this…where did the comments/discussion about college kids carrying guns come into the picture? There is a whole slew of pharmaceutical drugs that can make you go “nuts” (paranoid, delusional etc) also. This doesn’t mean he is a hardened criminal. Man, folks around here are so damn quick to judge with only a few facts presented. Happy to see the ECSO negotiators had the presence and patience to “talk him down”. A lot of restraint on their part after he opened fire with a rifle. Bravo Zulu guys/gals!!
God Bless the mans family
Chris Payne is good kid, he mad a poor choice I grew up with him he was a hell of a football player and I hate this for him. But please don’t judge him for a mistake he made under the influence he’s a really good person. I hope the best for him.
Not understanding all the comments about being a college student. I never read anything about college campus in this article and maybe the guns belonged to someone else or they were stolen.
Oh good gravy! Well at least no one was hurt.
KATE – This young man is only 19 Years Old and therefore now allowed to obtain a Concealed Weapons Permit, which would be required to carry on a College Campus. You must be 21 Years of Age to apply for the permit. This means that most Young Adults that are able to carry will have been on campus, normally, about 2 years before they can carry a firearm. You must also complete a Federal Form 4473 when purchasing a firearm and one question ask if you are on drugs. So Kate, this young man could not legally carry a firearm for approximately another 2 years. Besides, the campus carry issue is another article all together.
He will be getting exactly 20 years worth of “help” as firing a gun in the commission of a felony comes with a minimum MANDATORY sentence of 20 years; I know what you’re gonna say “but Kane he didn’t commit a felony” well yes he did as soon as he fired that gun at an occupied vehicle ie: the deputy’s cruiser.
@ Kate – I guess I’m confused. I didnt read anywhere in the article that he was a college student. Even if he was, does that mean every single college student is going to abuse drugs and shoot at the cops? I think not.
Kinda like saying “I read an article where a person named Kate beat an animal.” Does that mean every person named Kate should not be allowed to own pets?
Put the blame where it belongs. This grown man, not the gun, LSD, his parents or the cops did this to him. He need to accept responsibility and make a change.
Kate. It is good for the good students to be able to be armed, because the ones that are disturbed may be armed legally or NOT! Mass killers do not observe the law. Should not the majority be protected against the insane minority? Think. Guns do not kill. People do..
Kate, I’m sure you also have a problem with 17 and 18 year olds signing up for military duty, leaving their families and college plans to serve in the military and carry a weapon. Feel free to volunteer your services. Additionally, as I’m sure you don’t know, concealed carry holders will still have to be over 21 before being eligible for a license in most -if not all- states. Better yet, let’s just make the whole country a gun free zone. That will stop crime.
You got it Paul.
Do they even make “LSD” anymore?
Living on Crystal Dr. was just too circumstance I bet.
Kate, where does it even say he’s in college? Your comment is invalid.
“the family believed the man had ingested some type of narcotics, possibly LSD.”
It is not even certain that he took anything or what it even was. So quit jumping to conclusions.
Also at this age he would be in boot camp learning to shoot an M16, so don’t say guns this or mind’s not developed that. That is just Liberal close-mindedness.
What a dangerous thug! I’m surprised the police didn’t fire at him, 6 shots??? This isn’t what a community needs
gee Kate, I missed the part where he was on campus, where exactly was that sentence? Whether you agree with carry on campus or not (and I’m not necessarily agreeing with that), this is completely different. This is more related to keeping weapons secured.
I hope that he will get adequate rehabilitation and mental health care. This horrible event resulted by behavior this young man had no control over. Great job, law enforcement, I’m glad to have seen the team effort and response.
Kate, you should not put every student into one category as drugged up thugs. This is also the age group of adults that we send off to war to protect and serve our country.
Bravo To The Sheriff and all the fine officers that are protecting and serving Escambia County in such a professional manner. Good Work Again.
I’m sure the help he’s gonna get involves being behind bars for a while to dry out..
I knew Chris from high school, it’s crazy how drugs can take control of your life like this. Sad to see a once good kid turn into this. Be praying for everyone involved.
I’m extremely happy that no law enforcement officer was harmed. It is also nice to hear that they are going to try to help this young man instead of just throwing him away. He obviously has some problems and help with those problems is the answer. Do not throw him into the justice system and forget about him. Thank goodness this ended peacefully without harming anyone. Thanks to the Sherriff’s Dept and Sherriff Morgan.
Yep, that’s why all college students should be able to carry guns on campus. They are all sane, have fully developed brains and oh so much common sense. I hope Evers and the rest of them think about their choices when more of our young adults die from gun shots.
Great Job Sheriff Morgan and Team.