By By Adam Prestridge
Escambia County sheriff's officials were acting to protect themselves during an altercation in which an Atmore man was shot by an officer last week, Sheriff Grover Smtih said Friday.
The Escambia County Sheriff's Office is still awaiting the results of an Alabama Bureau of Investigation probe concerning the shooting.
While attempting to serve an order Tuesday afternoon to commit Derrick Dixon, 19, of Atmore, Escambia County Sheriff's Office transportation officer Jimmy Payne shot Dixon's brother, Dayshawn Dixon, 21, Smith said.
Deputy Bruce Shue and Payne went to the Dixon home, located on Fourth Street in Atmore, to serve a civil court order that had been signed in Escambia County Probate Court by the man's mother, Smith said.
Derrick Dixon was combative with the officers, and Dayshawn Dixon became involved in the altercation and threatened officers with a screwdriver, Smith said.
Officers ordered Dixon to stand down, but he refused, Smith said, and that's when Payne shot Dayshawn Dixon in the neck.
The victims' grandfather, Willie Dixon, witnessed the shooting.
Willie Dixon said the officer was 10-12 feet away when he fired his gun.
Willie Dixon believes excessive force was used on his grandson.
Family members said both brothers are mentally unstable and that officers had come to take Derrick Dixon back to Searcy Hospital in Mount Vernon. Family members did not specify what those problems were.
Dayshawn Dixon was transported to Atmore Community Hospital following the shooting and later transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Fla., by LifeFlight.
Although his condition was critical, according to hospital officials Friday afternoon, he had been moved to a private room.
Smith said anyone with information regarding the shooting should contact the ABI at 1-800-392-8011.