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Century Man Shot Outside Highway 97 Piggly Wiggly; Atmore Man Charged (With Photo Gallery)
May 9, 2011
A North Escambia man is recovering after being shot Sunday afternoon just outside of the Piggly Wiggly in Davisville, and an Atmore man was arrested after waiting for deputies to arrive.
Family members identified the victim as 45-year old Garland Rodney Johnson of West Highway 4 Century. He was shot once in the abdomen with a .22 caliber revolver. Johnson was airlifted by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola in serious condition.
Gary Winston Smith, 57, of Rockaway Creek Road, Atmore, was arrested at the scene charged with aggravated battery in connection with the shooting. He was released from the Escambia County Jail Monday on $10,000 bond.
For more details on this story, click here for an update.
Authorities believe he shooting resulted from an ongoing feud between the two men over a female.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
About 4:20 p.m., Johnson pulled into the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly, parking his Nissan several feet from the store, witnesses said. He approached the store’s sidewalk, where Smith was standing near his Ford Mustang, which was parked directly adjacent to the sidewalk. The two men began to argue, according to a witness. That’s when Smith allegedly fired a single shot from a small Derringer-type revolver in the direction of the parking lot into Johnson’s abdomen. The wound was believed to be through-and-through, with the bullet continuing into the crowded parking lot. Deputies were unable to locate the bullet.
After being shot, Johnson walked inside the store where 911 was called. Smith, according to witnesses, waited in the store’s parking lot about 15 to 20 minutes for deputies to arrive. When the deputies approached him, Smith (pictured) reportedly put his hands in the air, surrendered and admitted to the shooting.
The incident remains under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the call.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here. The photo gallery shows the complete scene, the victim being airlifted, the suspect being arrested, a crime scene investigator at work and vehicles being searched.
Pictured top: A North Escambia man was shot just outside the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 97 in Davisville. Pictured inset: This NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo shows Gary Winston Smith of Atmore being arrested in connection with the shooting. Pictured below: The victim, Garland Rodney Johnson of Century, was transported by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
34 Responses to “Century Man Shot Outside Highway 97 Piggly Wiggly; Atmore Man Charged (With Photo Gallery)”
15-20min is nothing when you’re trying to quickly finish a traffic stop or when you’re trying to put in a report from someone’s home about who knows what. All of these things have to be done in a specific order and correctly. Then they have to fly with lights on through all the back roads and it will still take 10min coming from Century. They do there best, that’s all I’m saying. It really is one of the downsides of living out here. The sad thing is that Atmore is right there, but they can’t cross the line. But I do agree there should be Walnut Hill Precinct with at LEAST 2 full time officers on duty to help cover the gap.
3 of the 4 cars in the picture patrol the Century area .So with that said it takes a little time to put the coffee cup down and say by to the local hooch store (the old diamond station) in Century .Come on people give them a break.
“ME” wrote “I hope I wasn’t misunderstood, William. I was defending law enforcement. I thought 4 deputies would have been more than enough to handle that situation.”
No misunderstanding. I just wanted to point out that there were many other law enforcement officers there.
If all you know is that you have a person shot inside a grocery store and there may be a shooter in the parking lot, four would not be enough to contain the situation, establish a perimeter to find the suspect, etc.
Look at what happened with Gabrielle Giffords in an Arizona grocery store parking lot — six people killed and 13 others injured. You send a lot of deputies in the beginning until you know what’s going on. Then it still takes several to get witness statements and investigate, while it takes other to “secure” the area — keep people out of the crime scene and make sure no further violence erupts among upset bystanders.
I hope I wasn’t misunderstood, William. I was defending law enforcement. I thought 4 deputies would have been more than enough to handle that situation. I think they get a bad rap a lot of the time.
I agree with you David Huie. Living in the country does have it’s downsides, but for the most part is very well worth it.
yep, if living in the country were without downsides, everybody would do it
David considering response time
and fuel cost downside
I’m 64 and still don’t understand fighting over a boyfriend or a girlfriend. If I ever had a boyfriend that acted like he would like to be with someone else, no matter who made the first move, I happily gave him to her with my blessings. You can’t make someone love you. And I sure didn’t want anyone I couldn’t trust.
If you don’t like the response time move to Pensacola, thats all part of living in the country.
“ME” wrote:
“4″ county law enforcement cars at the scene in the picture.
Plus the (don’t remember exactly) 3-4 more that you don’t see that were out in the parking lot, plus the two detectives’ vehicle, plus the crime scene van. And that does not include the Atmore Police units that were sitting on their side of the line waiting to assist if needed.
“4″ county law enforcement cars at the scene in the picture. Dumb & dumber still should not have been fighting in a public grocery store parking lot. You might need more deputies, but in the good old days when people had a lot more morals you had about 1-2 deputies & one really good constable…..
The good ol country boys ‘n girls ought to behave themselves….be civil…..
“Me”.. I have to disagree with you. This is a “COUNTY” Law Enforcement. Which means rural or “country roads”. The problem is the leaders of this county look at the north end of the county differnt than the south end. We need more deputies up here, period. We pay the same taxes everyone else does.
Morgan is not going to send anyone else up that way. He will not even open the Walnut Hill Precinct. I believe he said it is open on Thursdays for a while, manned by two retired Deputies just trying to get their mandatory 16 hours a month reserve deputy time in. Attention potential victims, it is safe to go out into your community on Thursdays. Just please limit your wanderings to the area near the Precinct. Thanks for your cooperation. Your loving Sheriff
Lucky only a gun was involved. He could have used a real dangerous weapon, such as his car to run him down. Somebody could have really been hurt.
There is a somewhat small price to pay for living in small town, rural & country areas. It actually makes sense that the more populated areas would have the most law enforcement officers. Waiting 15-20 minutes is not a terribly long time considering the North end of Esc. Co. covers quite a large area with lots of country roads for the law enforcement to get where they need to go.
Not to mention, dumb & dumber should have taken their argument over the woman away from a public facility like a grocery store. Take it out in the woods and duke it out & don’t endanger innocent peoples lives for stupidity. I highly doubt that Mr. Johnson was going to do much to Mr. Smith, there is no mention of Mr. Johnson having a gun.
My niece was working at the pig at the time of the shooting, and I am very thankful that she is ok. Things could’ve been alot worse. Having to wait 15 to 20 minutes for help is ridiculous.
if johnson approched smith from what i am reading. gover. bush signed into law . that if you fear for your life . use what you have to.
this is a case of 2 good men…stupified by 1 ….the song Grenade sure has taken a new trully stupid meaning to me …..sorry for all involved..god bless
I agree with Chris. What if this was a case of an armed person inside the store shooting multiple people? In 20 minutes everyone in the store would be dead.. Come on Escambia County …Wake up we need more LEO up this way!
Don’t know any of ‘em….but, guys remember “No matter how gorgeous she maybe….somebody somewhere is tired of her crap.” No man or woman is worth this!!
He might have been trying to protect himself. Don’t be so eagerly to judge.
This sounds to me like it might have possibly been a case of self defense,If i read the article right the victim approached the shooter in the parking lot and they began to argue.Not saying it was but the shooter did wait 20 minutes for the police to arrive.If i had shot someone just because i didn’t like them i think i would have made better use of that 15-20 minutes.
Over a woman….Please……She must be related to Tony the Tiger “She’s Great”.
I hope that Mr. Johnson’s girlfriend is happy with all the turmoil that she’s caused. Ever heard of fidelity???? Now one man is in the hospital and could die, and the other is going to prison! Not to mention the countless family members that are being affected by this!
Over a woman??? You have got to be kidding!!!! Thats just STUPID!!!! There are enough womaen around for all men!!!! Hope the guy that got shot is OK!
15-20 min response time, well lets thank god this idiot waited for the local sheriff to show up, they must have had to saddle up before responding. this could have turned out worse than it was, add a little crazier, more armed person- a lot of damage can be done in 15-20 mins————————–this is a joke and i hope local officials are opening their eyes
hope the guy is ok! my papa used to call it the hoggly woggly!!!
My prayers go out for the victim.. my sister brianna works at the pig & was their I don’t know what I woulda done if shed been hurt.
“…works at ‘the Pig’… ” (imagine the last 2 words in italics & underlined)
I love it. I remember having one in Cantonment, years ago.
Seems that more & more, crazy people having trouble with impulse control are losing it in public places.
I hope they don’t eventually have something to do with government messing up MY firearms-related rights.
anywhere is better than at walmart become walmart free, and with todays gas prices ya have stay close to home so that lets out \Appalachia also. LOL
I hope the victim has a speedy recovery. My brother works at the Pig. I am so glad he is off on Sundays.
Where can I find a bullet proof vest for my grocery shopping???
This scares me I had just left there a few hours ago.
This aint good!!!!
I continue to say one is safer on trhe appalaciahn trail(or any trail) than they are in a Wal-mart parking lot!
WOW,we are not even safe to go buy groceries !!!!!!
people need Jesus