Two separate shootings that injured three Atmore residents and a Freemanville resident took place in the Martinville and Freemanville Communities late last weekend.

Escambia County Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said the first shooting occurred on Sat., Nov. 28, at 5:50 p.m., at 592 Martinville Loop.

The victim is Derek James Staples, 27, of 7400 Jack Springs Road, Lot No. 50, of Atmore, Lambert said.

“We got a call to come to the Atmore Community Hospital in reference to a gun shot victim,” Lambert said. “When deputies got there, they found Mr. Staples with gun shot wounds to his body, and was in serious to critical condition.

“Deputies were able to ascertain some brief information from him, where he indicated that he was in the bathtub of his residence taking a bath, and three to four black males entered the residence; what I call a home invasion type of thing,” he said. “They basically demanded or wanted to know if he had money.”

Lambert said the suspects got Staples’ wallet and took a large sum of money.

“Before they left, a shot was fired and struck him in the mid section,” he said. “The suspects left and (Staples) was able to get himself up and go over to his cousin’s house, and put him in the car and drove him to the hospital by POV (privately owned vehicle).”

Lambert said Staples was taken by Lifeflight to the University of South Alabama Medical Center and was listed in serious to stable condition on Sunday.

Lambert said that Staples was able to give the sheriff’s office a description of the person who shot him.

“At this time, we have not charged him,” he said. “We are investigating him.”

Lambert said the person of interest is from Atmore, and anticipates making an arrest in the near future.

The second shooting occurred on Nov. 29 at around 2:20 a.m. at 800 Freemanville Drive in the Freemanville Community, Lambert said.

Lambert said the shooting was at the parking lot of Junior Thames’ Place, a former bar, adding that the owner doesn’t have a liquor license, but sells chicken wings.

“We got the call to come to the Atmore emergency room in reference to three people shot,” Lambert said. “When deputies arrived on scene, the people had multiple gun shot wounds. Some of them were non-life threatening, some of them were considered in serious condition.

“Speaking with the victims in the case, when asked if they know who did it or why, they said they did not know who did it, and that they were standing in the parking lot and all of a sudden, they began to hear shots fired and were struck with bullets,” he said.

Lambert said everyone at the bar fled the location and the victims were brought by POV to the hospital.

The victims are Kenneth Lavon Black, 44, of 1715 Freemanville Drive; Charles Franklin Jones Jr., 28, of 158 King Street in Atmore; and Willis Williams, 28, of 300 Evverette Street in Atmore.

Lambert said all three victims were transported to USA for further treatment after being treated at ACH.

As far as suspects in the case, Lambert said the sheriff’s office has a list of suspects and there will be arrests made in the immediate future.

Those who have any information in regard to the Freemanville Community shooting are urged to call the sheriff’s office at 1-251-867-0304.