An Eatonton man was shot at the Shell Food Mart Sunday afternoon and later died at the hospitals, authorities say.
The alleged shooter was in custody approximately 24 hours later.
Putnam County Coroner Hollis Harrison identified the victim as Frederick Scott Jr., 32, of Chase Circle, Eatonton. He was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. by an Emergency Department physician at Putnam General Hospital.
Scott apparently died from a single gunshot wound to the chest, Harrison said; but he noted that the body was taken to the State Crime Lab for an autopsy to determine the manner and cause of death.
Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell, Putnam County Sheriff’s Detective Lt. Harry Luke, and Sheriff Howard Sills investigated the case and immediately identified the shooter as 24-year-old Lajuan Peire Evans and a manhunt ensued.
Evans had lived in Rockdale, Morgan and Jasper counties, and the law enforcement officers “were out beating the bushes looking for him” until late Sunday, Cardwell said.
On Monday morning, Sills learned that he knew a family member of Evans and he coordinated a surrender through them.
Sills also talked on the phone with Evans’ attorney, Barry Hazen of Atlanta.
Evans turned himself into Putnam County Sheriff’s Office about 5 p.m. Monday.
“He walked in the front door accompanied by several family members,” Sills said.
The shooting took place shortly before 6 p.m. at the Shell Food Mart on Sumter Street in Eatonton.
“He (Evans) had gone in and paid for his gas, then he came out and shot the victim and then he finished filling his car up with gas,” Cardwell said.
Noting that a handgun was used, Cardwell said the victim did not brandish a gun or fire any weapon, only Evans did.
Authorities still do not know what prompted the shooting. Cardwell and Sills said Evans “lawyered up and wouldn’t talk” when he turned himself in.
Lajuan Peire Evans, 24, of Hunters Ridge Drive, Monticello, is in Putnam County jail charged with one count of murder.