News

Drug deal gone bad?

Two men shot at mobile home park north of Poarch reservation

By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer

Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) investigators are still working to unravel the circumstances that led to the Monday night (October 9) shooting of two people at a mobile home park just north of the Poarch Creek Indian reservation.
Police officers from Poarch and Atmore, as well as Alabama State Troopers, were also dispatched to the scene, reportedly at Big Oak Mobile Home Park, around 8 p.m.
Although authorities have not confirmed the report, an emergency responder said the shooting was believed to be the result of “an apparent drug deal gone bad.”
The shooting victims, neither of whom has been identified, were flown in separate medical evacuation helicopters to area trauma centers, where both reportedly remained this morning.
One of the victims was reportedly shot in the head and is in critical condition. The other victim’s condition was not known by Tuesday’s press deadline.
Unconfirmed reports are that there was more than one shooter, and that they left the scene in a white extended-cab Chevrolet pickup that was located and stopped by police or deputies within an hour of the shooting.
However, a Tuesday morning check of the Escambia County Detention Center website did not reflect any arrests for murder, attempted murder or first-degree assault over the previous 24 hours.
Sheriff Heath Jackson had not responded by Tuesday’s press deadline to a request for information on the shooting, and Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said Monday night he didn’t have any details on the shooting, except that his agency was asked to help ECSO in any way needed.
“I only know we were called to assist,” Brooks said around 9 p.m. “The county is on the scene, and everything will be turned over to them.”