By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Escambia County District Judge Eric Coale set bond last week at $1 million for Anthony Jerome English, the Atmore man accused of shooting another Atmore man to death on September 24.
English, 23, is accused of waiting in ambush, then shooting several times into a Nissan Altima driven by Roderick Lynn “Thumper” Watkins Jr., also 23, when Watkins arrived at his Jimbos Road home from work around 2:30 a.m.
Watkins was reportedly hit several times and died on the ground beside his car. Authorities have not announced a motive for the shooting, but the victim’s mother said her son and English were at odds “over a girl.”
Court records show that the murder suspect, who was apprehended September 30 in Monroeville, was out on bond for third-degree robbery and third-degree domestic violence at the time of the fatal shooting. He reportedly failed to show for an August 30 hearing on those charges.
His bond on the robbery and domestic violence charges has been revoked, and an additional charge of second-degree bail jumping has been lodged against him.
English is reportedly the man seen “hiding in the bushes” near the Watkins car by a witness who responded to the hail of gunfire.
An employee of the Escambia County Detention Center’s booking and release division reported Monday that English remained in the facility.