Suspect now in custody
Updated at 6:54 p.m. Monday
The suspect in a murder in Eatonton yesterday is now in custody, authorities say.
Lajuan Peire Evans, 24, turned himself in to Putnam County Sheriff’s Office about 5 p.m. Monday, Sheriff Howard Sills said.
The sheriff said he learned that he knew a family member of Evans and coordinated the surrender through them. Sills also talked on the phone with Evans’ attorney, Barry Hazel of Atlanta,
“He (Evans) walked in the front door accompanied by several family members,” Sills said.
See The Messenger’s print edition Thursday for more on this developing story.
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Original story:
An Eatonton man was shot at the Shell Food Mart Sunday afternoon and later died at the hospital, authorities say.
The alleged shooter was still being sought by authorities late Sunday.
Putnam County Coroner Hollis Harrison identified the victim identified the victim as Frederick Scott Jr., 32, of Chase Circle, Eatonton. The victim died from an apparent single gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. by an Emergency Department physician at Putnam General Hospital.
Eatonton Police officers and Putnam County Sheriff’s deputies as well as the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office are actively searching for Lajuan Peire Evans, 24 years old, who has lived in Jasper, Rockdale and Morgan counties, according to Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell and Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills.
Cardwell said anyone who knows Evans’ whereabouts should call the police chief on his cell phone at 478-288-3386.
“Your call can remain anonymous,” he added.
The shooting took place shortly before 5:55 p.m. at the Shell Food Mart on Sumter Street in Eatonton, Sills said. When asked what prompted the shooting, Sills said, “Apparently the victim said something this guy didn’t like and he shot him in the heart.”
“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.
Cardwell drove to the home of Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Brenda Trammell and obtained a warrant for Evans’s arrest on a charge of malice murder.
“We’re out here now beating the bushes looking for this guy,” Cardwell said late Sunday. “Anybody thinking of coming to shoot up the town better stay out of Eatonton, Georgia.”
Anyone with information should call Cardwell at 478-288-3386, or Eatonton Police Department at 706-485-3551, or Putnam County Sheriff’s Office at 706-855-8557.