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Assault turned into homicide

Atmore Police Department officials said July 13 that they are waiting on search warrants and information in regard to an assault investigation that turned into a homicide.

Chief Chuck Brooks said in a release that Demarkus W. Lawson, 19, of Atmore, sustained a single gunshot wound, at a residence on White Street.

Brooks said Lawson was air transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Fla., and on July 4, 2020, APD investigators learned that Lawson had passed away due to complications from his injury.

Brooks said on June 29, 2020, at approximately 9:17 p.m., the APD received a 911 call in response to a person being shot with a firearm at a White Street residence. He said APD officers and EMS were immediately dispatched to the residence.

“APD officers arrived at the residence and noticed a car leaving from the area with the emergency lights flashing,” Brooks said in a release. “A witness told a responding officer the injured victim had been loaded into a personal vehicle and was being transported to Atmore Community Hospital. The officer then followed the vehicle to the hospital while other officers secured the scene.”

Brooks said APD investigators are now investigating this case as a homicide.

“Investigators have interviewed several people who were present during the shooting, but no arrest has been made as of this date,” he said.

Brooks said noone has come forward with information relating to this case.

“There were roughly six to eight people there at the scene,” Brooks said. “When this call originally started, it was for a person shot.”

Brooks said APD investigators have been working the case since the call went out.

“They’ve interviewed all of the witnesses there at the scene multiple times,” he said.

Brooks said an arrest hasn’t been made in the case, yet. He said the investigators are working to collect enough probable cause to make an arrest.

Brooks said those with any information concerning this office to please call the APD at 251-368-9141.