Photo (Don Fletcher): APD officers mark the location of shell casings; two markers were placed on a concrete pillar.
Atmore police were still on the scene at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Tuesday, Aug. 31) after several shots were fired, apparently by a person who had been pumping gas at the Chevron station on South Main Street.
An employee of the store said the shooting occurred around 6:45 p.m., shortly after a man came in and paid for $15 worth of gas.
The unidentified man had pumped $10 worth of gas when he suddenly dropped the pump nozzle and several shots rang out. Neither a reason for the shots, the identity of the intended victim nor whether anyone was actually struck by a shot were known as police continued to investigate.
Two patrol officers placed four identification placards on the ground, indicating that at least that many shots were fired, and two more on one of the concrete pillars that flank the gas pumps.
A person who was in line at the McDonald’s across the street from the station reported hearing what “sounded like five shots.”
Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said police are still in the early stages of their investigation. Store officials arrived shortly after 7 p.m. and were pulling up surveillance video for viewing by police.
“APD was called to the gas station after a cashier heard gunshots,” said Brooks. “Officers discovered a gas pump nozzle on the ground, with spent shell casings near the pump. We are still investigating.”
Anyone who might have any information regarding the incident is urged to call police at 368-9141.