One On The Run, Two Arrested After Shots Fired, SWAT Standoff On Olive Road

March 27, 2021

Two people are in custody and another is wanted after a series of events at an Olive Road store led to shots fired between deputies and suspects both early Saturday morning and again Saturday afternoon.

Here’s what the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says what happened:

The ECSO responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle parked in the back lot of Blue Angel Groceries on Olive Road and Whitmire Road, near Olive Baptist Church.

When the deputy arrived, he located a suspect sleeping in his vehicle. The deputy observed a handgun and numerous narcotics in plain sight on the floorboard between the suspect’s feet, according to the ECSO.

The deputy woke the suspect and attempted to take him into custody. The suspect exited the vehicle and engaged in two physical altercations with the deputy while attempting to flee on foot. The suspect then returned to his vehicle and reached toward where the firearm was located, forcing the deputy to fire at him.

The suspect escaped on foot. A perimeter was established, but the suspect was not located.

ECSO said a large quantity of narcotics and a firearm were located inside the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect was identified as John Lee Johnson Jr.

There were no injuries reported.

During the investigation, one of the witnesses provided a false identity to investigators. It was determined that the witness, later identified as Hassan Moorer, had active warrants for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, larceny, robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with bodily harm and robbery with a firearm.

ECSO said deputies returned to the Blue Angel Grocery looking for Moorer Saturday afternoon, and they were directed to the back of the open store by an employee. When deputies entered the building and announced their presence, they were met with an individual, who was not Moorer, pointing a firearm in their direction. Deputies fired at the individual and were able to secure the area.

The ECSO SWAT Team was activated and arrived on scene. The individual surrendered and there were no injuries. His name has not been released due to the ongoing investigation into the firearm being pointed at the deputies. Per protocol, the deputies have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

ECSO is still looking for Johnson, who is wanted in connection with the morning incident for battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting with violence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm while in commission of a felony, sale/manufacture/deliver cocaine, sale/manufacture/deliver ecstasy, and sale/manufacture/deliver controlled substances.

Moorer was captured Saturday night. He was wanted for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, larceny, robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with bodily harm and robbery with a firearm.

NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

Comments

10 Responses to “One On The Run, Two Arrested After Shots Fired, SWAT Standoff On Olive Road”

  1. ROBERT on March 29th, 2021 8:28 am

    Was sitting at Texas Roadhouse waiting to be seated and saw cops flying by and coming off the interstate…steady stream of LEO’s headed north on Davis….Glad it was settled with no fatalities….

  2. William Reynolds on March 28th, 2021 4:59 pm

    >>>Hassan Moorer was arrested just after midnight on 3/28/21 according to the jail booking log.

    He was *arrested* Saturday night. He was *booked* at the jail just after midnight Sunday. Booking time and arrest time are not the same thing. There could be hours in difference.

  3. Jason on March 28th, 2021 3:59 pm

    Hassan Moorer was arrested just after midnight on 3/28/21 according to the jail booking log.

  4. Lisa on March 28th, 2021 3:34 pm

    Pretty sure they got one late last night. Cops in my yard, dogs, yelling, all kinds of stuff. They told me they arrested a robbery suspect… who was hiding underneath one of the abandoned units in my yard. They’d chased him to there. I was watching a British murder show, and then realized all the yelling I was hearing, wasn’t from the TV.

  5. Keith on March 28th, 2021 2:00 pm

    Chip Simmons has his work cut out for him. Maybe he can improve things as things have gone down hill the last few years under Sheriff Morgan.

  6. EMD on March 28th, 2021 12:24 am

    There is a God sized vacuum in all we who were created in God’s image. A vacuum will be filled with something. The vacuum does not need church or religion, it needs Jesus Christ/Yeshua. If all were filled with Him, Love would reign supreme. Some have not heard of Him. His Word is not forbidden personally……….yet. There is still time to call on Him. There is pain, emptiness and loneliness in this world.

  7. Rebecca Fritschle on March 27th, 2021 10:06 pm

    I was working at that time. My boss told everyone to stay inside until further notice. Everyone at my work continued working and listened to my boss. I work at Goodwill down the street.

  8. paul on March 27th, 2021 6:48 pm

    While I have confidence in the abilities of these deputies, these are very dangerous situations they are encountering – wish there had been backup on the scene (sure they were on their way) but these scumbag criminals have no respect for the law or for life,

    Probably being harbored by some of their scumbag cohorts. A perfect example for equipping our LEO’s with body cams. When caught expedite the trials, let them rot in prison.

  9. J.Larry Seale on March 27th, 2021 5:58 pm

    Welcome to the “new”
    Escambia county……………..

  10. Ashley on March 27th, 2021 4:04 pm

    What is going on around here lately? Shootings all over the place. Drinks mowing over pedestrians and a golf cart. Cars slamming into trees. What sort of third world nightmare is going on? Have people just complete list their minds? Enough is enough already

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive