Suspect Used Girlfriend As Shield From Gunfire; Piggly Wiggly Robbery Unclear

February 6, 2016

Law enforcement officials in several states are still piecing together the story of a Missouri couple that was dubbed by the national media and federal authorities as a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde. But one piece of the puzzle that has not fallen into place just yet is the Wednesday robbery of the Piggly Wiggly grocery store on Highway 97 in Davisville, just yards south of the Alabama/Florida state line on Highway 97.

The end of their story is very clear –  Brittany Nicole Harper is recovering from gunshot wounds to the legs and ankles. Blake Fitzgerald was pronounced deceased in the backyard of a Santa Rosa County home early Friday morning. In his final moments, he used his girlfriend and crime partner  Harper as a human shield from the hail of gunfire that claimed his life, as confirmed by Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. Six of his deputies are on administrative leave following the shooting, which is standard procedure. Escambia County deputies were the only ones that fired after a chase ended in Santa Rosa County.

Harper (pictured left) was booked into the Escambia County Jail’s medical unit late Friday night where she was being held on a $1.16 million bond.

Many of the couple’s alleged crimes in Alabama, Georgia and Florida are also very clear. They allegedly kidnapped a hotel clerk in Tuscaloosa, stole his car, drove to Vestavia Hills, AL, released the hostage, and abandoned the stolen car. Law enforcement believes Fitzgerald then entered a residence while the family was present, displayed a handgun and stole the family’s Ford Edge in Vestavia Hills, forcing the wife to go with him in the stolen vehicle against her will. The woman was later released unharmed by the couple outside of an emergency room.

On Monday, the Joplin, MO, couple is believed to have robbed a convenience store in Perry, GA, also kidnapping and later releasing a clerk from the store.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Fitzgerald was their suspect in Wednesday’s armed robbery of the Alvin Island’s store in Destin. The business at 1000 U.S. Highway 98 was robbed at gunpoint shortly after noon. The man was accompanied by a white female who left the store just prior to the holdup.

And it appears they were responsible for the robbery of Famous Footwear store on Davis Highway in Pensacola Thursday night that set into a motion an hours-long cat and mouse game and a couple of high speed chases.

But as far as the Piggly Wiggly goes, State Attorney Bill Eddins is moving cautiously forward. Unless federal charges are brought against Harper, Eddins is the man in charge of her prosecution. Harper, he said, won’t be extradited to other states “until we are done with her” in Northwest Florida, Eddins said.

“There is the possibility of a matter involving the Piggly Wiggly in North Escambia County, although those matters remain under investigation and it will be necessary to gather additional information.  We have some conflicting evidence  as it relates to the matter in North Escambia,” Eddins said during a press conference Friday morning at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

When asked to elaborate, Eddins answered with a single word – “No”.

However, he said warrants had been issued for Harper for home invasion robbery, false imprisonment and grand theft auto — crimes with solid evidence related to Thursday night’s actions by the couple in which they held a couple hostage and stole their truck during Pensacola manhunt, before leading deputies on a final high speed chase to their ultimate demise in Santa Rosa County. Those warrants will carry such a high bond, he said, that Harper will remain in jail.

“We are going to be very particular and very methodical in investigating the other incidents — the Alvin’s Island, the Famous Footwear, and particularly the Piggly Wiggly in the north end, because we have got conflicting information about the Piggly Wiggly matter and we have got to be very careful that we only charge crimes that we know that we can prove,” he said.

Piggly Wiggly employees said a white male walked into the store about 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, pulled back his shirt to show a gun and escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash. He was described as a white male with a thin build and a shaved haircut. He was wearing a black American Eagle sweatshirt, blue jeans and a black hat. He reportedly fled in a black Ford F-150 pickup truck with a busted-out window driven by a white female in a hoodie. They were chased briefly by a store employee north on Highway 97 across the state line into Atmore. There were no injuries reported.

Piggly Wiggly employees identified Fitzgerald from photographs shown to them on a law enforcement bulletin about the couple.

After the press conference, Eddins told NorthEscambia.com that the conflicting information about the Piggly Wiggly robbery involves those witness descriptions of the holdup. One discrepancy, he said, was that physical description of Fitzgerald provided by the Piggly Wiggly employees. Multiple employees described the Piggly Wiggly bandit as being thin; however, Eddins said Fitzgerald was anything but thin.

U.S. Marshals, in a press release Thursday afternoon, did state that Fitzgerald and Harper were responsible for the Piggly Wiggly robbery. Their reasoning for that conclusion is unknown, but no warrants related to the North Escambia robbery have been issued.

For an earlier story and more information, click here.

Pictured top: State Attorney Bill Eddins addresses the Wednesday robbery of the Piggly Wiggly in Davisville during a press conference Friday morning with Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. Pictured top inset: Morgan describes the events that have transpired involving Blake Fitzgerald and Brittany Nicole Harper. Pictured bottom inset: The Piggly Wiggly robbery. Pictured below: The home were a chase involving the Missouri couple came to an end on Saragon Lane off Garcon Point Road in Santa Rosa County. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.


Comments

17 Responses to “Suspect Used Girlfriend As Shield From Gunfire; Piggly Wiggly Robbery Unclear”

  1. DMAN on February 9th, 2016 10:18 am

    Harsh comments for harsh actions. Yes, people will judge…it’s called the court system. It’s in the Bible, Sarah…if you’d actually read it, you can see where the bible references officials and magistrates who carry the sword, for such situations as this. These two individuals chose to disobey the law, and they are suffering the penalty for that now, both in the legal system, in eternity (the guy), and in the court of public opinion.
    And As David Huie stated…yes, some sins are worse than others. Give me a break with the whole “they’re all equal” baloney. Get real…what’s worse…someone lying to their friend about how they look….or shooting that person dead…use common sense, please.

  2. Karla Lukey on February 8th, 2016 3:56 pm

    There is a difference between judging someone, and expressing your opinion about them or a situation. God is the only true Judge, but even He knows their hearts…and we don’t. I know Brittany, a little & I knew she was headed for trouble. She was addicted to alcohol & drugs, & when that addiction takes over your life, you become a slave to it. when you judge someone, you open yourself up for the same harsh judgement that you dish out. I would not want to spend the rest of my life knowing that when things got bad, the guy I cared about, became a wanted criminal for, turned on me and used me as a shield to protect his own life—the ultimate betrayal! They made sure there was no other way for this to end, & it’s sad & traumatic for everyone involved…victims, and perps. She will have to answer for her part in this, & I pray that the victims in this are able to get help dealing with it, and can move on with their lives!

  3. sniper on February 8th, 2016 12:42 pm

    Law of the land. And if WE aren’t fit to judge, then tell me why we choose judges among us to serve? I am sure her lawyer is already building a case that will portray the boyfriend forced her to participate in their spree. Good work LEOs.

  4. Cara on February 8th, 2016 12:02 pm

    Let the court Judge her. I honestly think she’s going to be behind bars for quite some time. At this point she may wish she was dead because she isn’t going to have much of a life at all. It’s sad and heart breaking that this is someone’s daughter. I am thinking of the families who are suffering for the loss of their son and the loss of their daughter. Regardless of what was done there are some innocent family members who are beside themselves. Sad state of events. Apparently these people were not doing much thinking on the matter.

  5. David Huie Green on February 8th, 2016 11:21 am

    REGARDING:
    “since when are you fit to judge a life and death situation that occured? I think, thats the man upstairs job to do not yours. These two individuals do have familys that deserve respect at this time so your comments of judgement which might i add again ARE NOT YOUR JOB, are not really needed. Every sin is equal, as im sure youve all done. ”

    Debatable. God is not a man and some sins really are worse than others, unless you ha be some other God in mind.

    Numbers 23:19
    God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

    Exodus 3231
    And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

    David for discernment

  6. Pensacola pete on February 8th, 2016 10:44 am

    You heard it here first folks, we’re not to judge so we can close the courts down. We should let people do what they like and God will deal with each of us after we die. No need for laws, cops or the judicial system (isn’t the root word for “judicial” judge?) so think of all the tax dollars we’ll save!

    Besides, what gives you the right to judge my comments?

  7. john on February 8th, 2016 9:59 am

    I’m not going to call out names here, but I can’t stand pious individuals that seem so religious and self-righteous that they think its wrong to make an observation. This isn’t a matter of a beam in one’s eye and accusing thy brother in a hypocritical manner and not every sin is equal, if it were, we would all be a bunch of reprobates with salvation with Gods grace through faith in Christ Jesus would be unattainable. If we are speaking from the flesh we like to see justice served, but from the spirit, this young man (might) be in hell right now, but in the end that’s the direction they chose. God gave the Law (The Ten Commandments) so that man can judge and be judged, but he gave Grace (Jesus Christ) so that man can be free.

  8. Jake on February 8th, 2016 7:35 am

    Wow, you completely twisted those two scriptures to your liking. They have nothing to do with our “right” to judge. He IS the only judge.

  9. Pensacola pete on February 8th, 2016 6:47 am

    For “Sarah”, you’re right… Their families deserved respect, the kidnapping victims deserved respect, the robbery victims deserved respect; these criminals didn’t care! Their crime spree was going to end in death and thank God for His mercy that it wasn’t someone in my family or yours or their victims’.

    It IS our job to judge evil in the world, the Bible says “woe to those that call evil good and good, evil”. It also says “render unto Ceasar what is Caesar’s” so crimes committed against society are for society to judge. God has judged sin.

  10. Jonah on February 8th, 2016 12:44 am

    Sarah…even Ted Bundy had parents. No one is attacking the parents or family members. Sadly, your words are too late. If you knew these criminals, maybe you should of been preaching to them instead of a website on the internet.

    Thank your GOD that these two parasites are off the streets. They were/are a menace to society, and I hope Brittney never walks the streets a free woman again. You cant rob, steal, kidnap, and terrorize innocent people and expect the public not to condemn. Where is your compassion for the victims? Why aren’t you praying for them? What about the emotional scars they will have for the rest of their life’s? How dare you minimize their crimes, and chastise people who abide by the law and have a opinion that differs from yours. YOUR NOT GOD, but it is you who is judging others. Live by your own words.

  11. sarah on February 7th, 2016 8:57 pm

    You people making harsh comments, i have one question for all of you, since when are you fit to judge a life and death situation that occured? I think, thats the man upstairs job to do not yours. These two individuals do have familys that deserve respect at this time so your comments of judgement which might i add again ARE NOT YOUR JOB, are not really needed. Every sin is equal, as im sure youve all done. Thats all i have to say. Praying for this mans family and children as well as the law enforcement who were on this scene as well as thie gf and her family..may god be with all of you.

  12. melody on February 7th, 2016 6:38 pm

    Glad the crime spree is over so no more unnocent o people are harmed. I pray for his family knowing that his cowardice and his callousness will forever be felt by his victims…including his girlfriend who he has left holding the bag and will pay for all if their crimes alone…not that she is any more innocent than he is but they both deserved to be punished.

  13. jr on February 6th, 2016 9:52 pm

    This lady should spend the rest of her sorry life behind bars.

  14. Shay on February 6th, 2016 9:58 am

    Sounds like Fitzgerald was a coward till the end. At least a bullet saw fit to kill him dead.

  15. Stumpknocker on February 6th, 2016 9:03 am

    I wonder if she will be charged with the death of her boyfriend since it occurred during a commission of a felony?

  16. chillywilly on February 6th, 2016 8:44 am

    Thank You Escambia and Santa Rosa County Deputies
    We do appreciate you
    Job Well Done

  17. Bob on February 6th, 2016 8:28 am

    Glad they hit what they were shooting at this time.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News