Teen Shot During Cantonment Car Theft Facing Charges; Homeowner Won’t Be Charged

June 29, 2021

A 15-year old shot by a homeowner while allegedly stealing a car from a Cantonment neighborhood early Sunday is now facing several charges, while the homeowner will not face any charges.

A’kobie Gregory Fountain was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and burglary of a vehicle in connection with the incident in the 2500 block of Southern Oaks Drive.

The owner of the vehicle told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies he was alerted by his video surveillance system about the theft. The victim armed himself with a firearm and ran toward his vehicle with Fountain inside. The victim pointed his gun and demanded Fountain exit the ca.

Fountain got out of the vehicle and tackled the victim to the ground, according to investigators. The victim then fired his weapon several times at Fountain, but was unsure at the time if he struck the suspect. Fountain ran from the scene.

ECSO deputies arrived at the home and began searching for Fountain. Lt. Stephen Hall heard screaming from a wooded area and located Fountain, who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies also located two stolen guns taken from previous car burglaries.

Fountain was taken to a hospital and treated for gunshot wounds to his legs and abdomen. Once he was released from the hospital he was arrested.

“We encourage people to lock their doors, but just because a car is left unlocked does not give anyone the right to take it. A criminal broke into his car. A criminal stole his car. A criminal physically attacked him. A criminal got shot. We have no intention of charging the homeowner,” said Escambia County Sheriff Chip W. Simmons.

The ECSO is still looking for two other suspects in this incident. Anyone with information about their identities or locations is to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.

Comments

20 Responses to “Teen Shot During Cantonment Car Theft Facing Charges; Homeowner Won’t Be Charged”

  1. mark brown on June 30th, 2021 5:45 pm

    Its to bad all the shots didn’t hit the criminal .

  2. Rick on June 30th, 2021 8:51 am

    Good luck messing around in Southern Oaks!

  3. @Kyle on June 30th, 2021 8:26 am

    Do some research. The vast majority of guns owners (and cops) miss. It’s very common for people to fire many shots in a confrontation and score zero hits.

  4. Bewildered on June 30th, 2021 8:02 am

    Glad for the homeowner and also that he set a benchmark how future cases will be handled. Maybe that will send a message to the criminals that people don’t have to retreat and stay inside.

  5. Rat on June 29th, 2021 8:39 pm

    Eight shot’s two hit no bullseye
    Dude get to the range.

  6. Kyle on June 29th, 2021 7:18 pm

    Thats one lucky 15 year old!!most gun owners don’t miss..

  7. bob c on June 29th, 2021 4:10 pm

    A’kobie Gregory Fountain, a rising student in the School of Bad Choices.
    Wish I could think you’ve learned your lesson and straighten up to become a Good Man and all that goes with that.
    However, given today’s Gang Culture and Thug Life you may encounter more Citizens with guns and other ways to defend themselves and property.
    The Anti–Gun folks will make what they will out of this, However, the basic fact remains that Akobe you and your “pals” did NOT have to try and steal folks things or cars.
    Hope you and your gang learned something but not sure of that.

  8. Andrew Lindsey on June 29th, 2021 1:39 pm

    Happy ending, and a lesson to the compatriots of A’kobie Gregory Fountain. Here’s hoping he learns from his lesson.

  9. 429SCJ on June 29th, 2021 12:34 pm

    Geography and majority rule often dictates how you will be charged in many places.

    I am glad that the homeowner was not charged, moreover I am glad to live where I do.

  10. JTV on June 29th, 2021 11:49 am

    @Firearm Safety, you have no idea what happened, or what the scene was like, yet the thug was hit twice. Not bad if you ask me.

  11. Firearm safety on June 29th, 2021 10:16 am

    I understand the actions of the homeowner. But what risk did they put other people at by firing shots after a tussle? It clearly states the homeowner was unsure if the suspect was hit, and that tells me the homeowner had no idea where their shots were going. Don’t forget firearm owners, no matter the threat, you are responsible for where every projectile you fire lands.

  12. NavyDave on June 29th, 2021 8:08 am

    Fifteen year old kid chooses to steal someone’s car.
    Then, when confronted by the armed owner pointing a weapon at him what does he do? He charges at and tackles the owner. Does anyone doubt if he got the gun away from the owner what he would have done? I don’t. I also don’t have any doubt what the future holds for him.

  13. Chris on June 29th, 2021 7:53 am

    15 y/o out in the middle of the night, jacking cars. What a world we live in.

  14. JimC on June 29th, 2021 7:39 am

    I side 100% with the actions of the homeowner and would have done the same thing. At the same time, it breaks my heart that this 15-year old, and so many like him, become involved in this sort of crime so young. There are so many failures here, beginning with that kid’s parents and, also, our current social culture that glorifies crime and criminals. He needs our prayers desperately, and I hope this is a wake-up event that proves to him a need to turn his life and his mindset around.

  15. Chloe Tipton on June 29th, 2021 6:40 am

    Great job! This is what we need is more homeowners shooting people and maybe this will help our crime rates go down

  16. Dawn on June 29th, 2021 6:24 am

    A criminal was CAUGHT in the act of the crime. End of story.

  17. DLo on June 29th, 2021 5:56 am

    I’ll sit here and sip my coffee and wait for the apologies to all that jumped to conclusions about this on the other post, go ahead, I’ve got time, choose your words…

  18. pewlitzer on June 29th, 2021 4:56 am

    Dude! You make a lot of mistakes.

    Teen Shot During Cantonment Care Theft

  19. JTV on June 29th, 2021 3:53 am

    Sheriff Chip Simmons, you Rock.

    Now we all know that a piece of trash judge will give the young thug a weak sentence.

  20. Valerie Hicks on June 29th, 2021 3:52 am

    Awesome stand to take…..Yeah Florida….