By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
A 24-year-old Atmore man remained in the county jail Monday, May 26, charged with the latest in a series of incidents in which the suspect or suspects fired numerous shots into a vehicle traveling on a city street, or into a residence.
James Antonio Johnson surrendered to authorities after members of Atmore Police Department’s Special Response Team executed a search warrant on a residence in northeast Atmore. The suspect, charged with shooting into a car that was traveling in the area of Sowell Avenue and Trout Street on May 23, was not at the location during the search but turned himself in the next day at APD headquarters.
Police reports show officers responded to the area around 7 p.m. after dispatchers relayed a description of a vehicle in which the alleged shooters — Johnson and an unidentified “person of interest” — fled from the scene after firing more than two dozen shots. (Police reported the recovery of 27 spent shell casings from firearms of two different calibers. Despite the display of firepower, police said there were no injuries in the incident.)
A city patrol officer spotted the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Johnson “accelerated at a high rate of speed to 100 miles per hour on Carver Avenue.” The reporting officer noted that he “made eye contact with the driver, who he was personally familiar with,” and identified him as Johnson.
The officer lost sight of Johnson for a brief period before locating the vehicle, which had been abandoned at a local residence. Meanwhile, the intended assassination target positively identified Johnson as one of the individuals who shot up his car.
Johnson is charged with one count each of attempted murder, a Class A felony, and felony fleeing a law enforcement officer, usually a Class C felony but upgraded to Class B because the suspect drove 20 mph or faster above the speed limit in an attempt to escape custody.
Police said they have identified the person of interest and have obtained an arrest warrant for that individual as their investigation continues.