By By Adam Prestridge -Special to The Standard
Blood, broken glass and bullets were left behind at a park Tuesday night, providing Atmore police with a mystery when neither the victims nor the shooters could be found.
According to Atmore Public Safety Director Glenn Carlee, officers responded to a shots fired call at 8:26 p.m. June 20 at Houston Avery Park, located off Martin Luther King Drive.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered the blood, broken glass and two gun shell casings.
At the scene, the park's security guard and several eyewitnesses gave an account of the shooting.
Each person said a Chevrolet Suburban with Baldwin County plates had been involved in the incident.
Carlee said several shots were fired into the Suburban, which fled towards the Baldwin County line.
The vehicle was later found broken down just across the line in Baldwin County, which was later towed back to Atmore for processing.
But police who had seen the blood at the scene could not determine who had been shot - or whether anyone was even hurt.
Tracking dogs with the Alabama Department of Corrections were called in to assist in the search for the victims of the shooting.
Part of U.S. Highway 31 was shut down briefly Thursday night as officials tried to track down the victims.
The search proved fruitless.
Carlee said the owners of the vehicle, who indicated they were involved in the shooting and informed investigators no one had been shot, later contacted the APD.
All of the victims have been identified, and the police department has a tentative identification on the suspect, Carlee said. No arrests have been made.
As for security at Houston Avery Park, Carlee said it has since increased.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is encouraged to contact the Atmore Police Department at 368-9141.