ECSO charges teen for murder
Published 10:18 am Wednesday, March 5, 2003
By Staff
Staff Report
An Atmore man has been arrested and charged in the Monday afternoon murder of Tony Harris, age 20.
The incident occurred at around 2:40 p.m. Monday when a woman contacted the Escambia County Sheriff's Office Dispatcher to report that a man had been shot at her residence on Northgate Drive in Atmore.
Atmore Police Department officers also responded, along with medical personnel. When the officers arrived, they were told that Troy Harris walked into his home and told his family that he had been shot and that a family member had taken him to the hospital for treatment.
APD officers secured the scene until Sheriff's Deputies and investigators could arrive. When witnesses were interviewed, it was determined that Harris' cousin, Lionell Russell, 20, was involved in the shooting incident. An all-points bulletin was put out with surrounding law enforcement agencies for officers to attempt to locate Russell. A few minutes later, an Atmore officer located Russell walking along Martin Luther King Drive near the city limits. Russell fled but was apprehended by two Atmore Police Officers.
Harris was transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola for emergency surgery. Harris died while undergoing surgery and he was pronounced dead before 8 p.m. Monday. An autopsy will be conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement since Harris died in Florida.
Russell is currently on probation in Alabama and has also been charged with violation of probation. He is currently being held in the Escambia County Detention Center.