Latest Headlines
- A Very Good Boy: ECSO K-9 Streeter Awarded Medal Of Courage For Jumping Off Bridge After Suspect
- Plans Refiled For Circle K At Highway 95A, Quintette Road; Intersection Improvements Proposed
- Escambia School Board Buys 36 Acres For $3.9 Million For New Beulah School
- Head On Crash Injures Two In Beulah
- FWC Removes 14 Boaters For Boating Under The Influence During Blue Angels Air Show
- Century Spending Over $3.3 Million On Five Sewage Lift Stations
- Escambia Man Gets Life Sentence For Murdering Roommate Before Staging Her Drowning
- Catholic’s TJ McCants Drafted By Chicago White Sox
- Man Gets 50 Years In Prison For 2022 Murder At Cantonment Gas Station
- Pedestrian Checking Trailer Tire Struck By Car In Two Vehicle Crash Near Century
Two Charged With Firing Weapon At Party, Pointing Loaded Gun At Partygoers
October 27, 2015
Two Cantonment men have been charged with firing a weapon at an outdoor party and then pointing the still loaded firearm at multiple people.
About 2:15 a.m. Sunday, deputies responded to a shots fired disturbance at an empty lot about a mile east of Highway 29 on Becks Lake Road.
Justin Ray Landers and Joshua Shane Whitemire, both 23-years old, had reportedly become involved into an argument with other people at the party. Landers then handed a semi-automatic pistol to Whitmire, and Whitemire fired 2-3 shots into the air and then proceeded to point the loaded pistol at other people in the area. Whitemire returned to the pistol to Landers, who pointed the loaded weapon at people that attempted to stop them from leaving, according to an arrest report.
Whitmire then backed the truck up at a high rate of speed, running over the foot of a 17-year old juvenile, the report states. Then, as the vehicle was leaving the area, Landers fire more shots out of the passenger side window.
Landers and Whitemire were taken into custody in the front yard of Whitmire’s resident on Tara Dawn Circle. A Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun was seized.
The juvenile refused medical treatment for her foot.
Landers and Whitmire were both charged with discharging a firearm in public, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill. They were both released from the Escambia County Jail on $3,000 bond each.
Comments
26 Responses to “Two Charged With Firing Weapon At Party, Pointing Loaded Gun At Partygoers”
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0776/Sections/0776.012.html
“@ Dman – Are you SERIOUS?! A responsible use of a firearm? Please tell me you do not have a CC permit.”
@Pat: Whether I have one or not is my business. If somebody tries to stop me from leaving a confrontation, you bet there’ll be defensive measures taken. Unlike sheep who trust the system with its 15-30 minute delay (this after a phone call) to defend them, I try my best to protect myself and loved ones in a more efficient, accurate, and lawful manner.
Wonder why when Gerald Baton finally admitted they had a weapon years ago at a bonfire party in Milton, why he and the others were NOT charged? The justice system is beyond messed up in Escambia & Santa Rosa Counties.
and where is alcohol mentioned??? know the facts
He wasn’t stopped from leaving he fired shots after he got confronted and started running his mouth I was there and the teen just so happened to be my little sister so what was the reason she shouldn’t be there
@ Dman – Are you SERIOUS?! A responsible use of a firearm? Please tell me you do not have a CC permit.
I have tried many times in the past to press the point that Bail is not a fine or punishment, but a surety to appear in court. That being said, $3000?! Really?!
Gun–check!
Alcohol–check!
Testosterone–check!
Bad judgment–check!
Seems to me that responsible gun owners should be condemning this type of unlawful behavior by irresponsible gun owners. Because going to a party, getting drunk and threatening people with a gun in no way shape or form reflects the intent of Stand Your Ground, and causes a ton of headaches for those who do things properly.
The gun was legally carried and owned…The two were being threatened for their lives, Yes they were both intoxicated however, One young man ended up with a broken nose in three places, The vehicle was damaged and also ended up in a mechanical shop and is not capable of being driven at the moment. You also have to think they are of the legal drinking age and the weapon was legal…They were being assaulted kept from leaving and their lives being threatened…Not saying it was right but you have to remember there is always more than one side to the story.They may get off with just probation but every person in the town of their residents now knows and they will never live this down.
The gun was not carried openly…One of the men was assaulted himself by another person at the gathering that ended with a broken nose in three places.The other mans truck was also vandalized damaged and resulted in the vehicle being put in a mechanical shop.The two yes we’re under the influence however when your life is threatened by multiple people and not only you but your vehicle and friend are assaulted and have a legal weapon what would you do?Just an opinion not saying it’s right but every story has more than one side
Mick
Where did it say they were drunk?
From someone who was there, this was not a responsible use of a firearm. She was injured, it was just not severe enough to receive a thousand dollar doctor bill. They were not in fear for their lives. They started the argument and they finished it with gun shots. Which for someone drinking, this could have resulted a lot worse. Thank god no one was SEVERELY hurt that night. I’ve lost a family member from being shot by a friend. It was a complete mistake. So don’t tell me mistakes don’t happen. We are all very lucky no one was killed that night. Also, look up these boys on jail view. It’s not their first time getting in trouble. Adding to that, they haven’t learned from their mistakes because they are still committing serious crimes.
I’m sorry, Kate. Do you have information that we don’t have? Do you know that they had a CCW permit to begin with?
What part of the article indicates that a: the gun was openly carried? b: the gun was legally owned and purchased? Did my browser delete a paragraph, or is the person commenting speculating?
Has nothing to do with open carry. Do you blame AAA for drunk drivers?
Some lack basic critical thinking skills.
Bet they get probation, and wiped of their record as well!!
To Kate,
The gun did not commit the crime. The men did. And people like that are going to carry a gun when they want to whether it is legal to do so or not. Do you not know that governments take away its citizens’ gun rights before they take away all of their rights ………..using guns to do so? I hope you will read histories of countries who came under oppression, and how it happened. Also, in places where guns are banned, there is more crime. Where all citizens are allowed to carry there is less crime. Check it out in many places………not just this country’s mainline news sources where reporters are told what to report.
oh yes 3,000 bond they can go do it again.alcohol and guns dont mix
Well the teen shouldnt have been there anyways.
They were being assaulted. In fear for their lives. They were trying to leave and get away from the attack. What is being reported is one side to the story. Not condoning what happened just saying to reserve judgment until all the facts are available.
Two observations…1) nobody was seriously injured or killed, & 2) The report states that he “pointed the loaded weapon at people that attempted to stop them from leaving”. Details, folks…details. It seems people were trying to STOP them from leaving.
So, that being said, it looks like this possibly WAS a responsible use of a firearm. Naturally, many people see “firearm” or “gun” and then they lose their mind (called the “Hillary” effect). It seems that the judge may have thought along these same lines also, due to the low bail he set.
Please pay close attention to details and learn the real facts before going ape-crazy.
Drunks with guns – these two rocket scientists should still be in jail.
Kate, how can you compare this to open carry? You might as well be saying “Look, he drove a vehicle. See how great cars are?” Quite being a sheep.
It doesn’t matter if the juvenile was hurt or not. It’s the fact that he ran her over. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never done that. People like that shouldn’t have the luxury of driving or carrying a gun. Sorry bout it. If you have something to add to this, feel free to call it in, “unknown”.
Mr. Evers see how great open carry is?
Guns and alcohol. In what world is that ever a great idea and what was the judge thinking giving them a $3000 bail?