'He's Shooting Everybody'
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50¢ Friday/ Saturday Perry News-HeraldFebruary 7-8, 2014 Serving the Tree Capital of the South Since 1889 Community stunned InvestigatorsPerry seek News-Herald motive behind shooting rampage Investigators are still truck into the front of conference that Clague the time of the shooting and minor injuries, officialsin the investigation,” trying to determine a the dealership, exited the was an employee in good immediately responded. said. Except for Lundy, the said Don Ladner, special motive behind the shooting vehicle and began opening standing and had called in Gunfire was exchanged and identities of those injured agent in charge of the inside Timberland Ford fire with a semi-automatic sick Wednesday. Clague was killed. have not been released. Florida Department of Wednesday morning in shotgun. Taylor County Sheriff’s Lundy and two employees “While we don’t yet Law Enforcement (FDLE) which employee Earl Law enforcement Office Deputy Robertwere shot and are recovering know the motive behind Tallahassee Regional Edward Clague Jr., 51, officials said during aLundy was in the dealership at local hospitals while three [Clague’s] actions, that is ➟ Please see page 5 allegedly crashed a pickup Thursday afternoon press having his car serviced at additional victims suffered something we’re pursuing ‘A man with a gun’ Eyewitness held deputy Vanessa Whitt Thrift Three people were shot and three additional people injured in the workplace shooting at Timberland Ford Wednesday. Above, was in the back of the a victim is loaded into an ambulance for transport to an area hospital. The identities of the shooting survivors have not been Timberland Ford service released; the shooter/suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. (Photos and coverage by Angela M. Castelucci and Mark Viola) area when she first heard the screams. Then, the yelling: “There’s a man with a gun.” Two women ran toward her and she ushered ‘He’s shooting everybody’ everyone into her office, a side room off the main area. “I closed the door and locked it, then I had the Timberland employees sought shelter at Goodman’s women get under the desk. When I looked out the Wednesday began like ‘He’s shooting everybody.’ restaurant. She believes one separating her restaurant locked all the doors to the window, I saw him and he most other days for Sandy Chesser and her was an employee and two and Timberland to escape, restaurant,” she said. looked straight at me. There Gail Chesser, preparing to employees let the three were customers. One of the she added. ➟ Please see page 5 was a whole bunch of shots open Goodman’s Barbecue terrified women into the women climbed the fence “We let them in and then and then I could hear (Taylor for another busy lunch County Sheriff’s Office crowd. deputy Robert) Lundy Then at just before 10:30 shouting for somebody to a.m., that all changed, when call his wife,” Thrift said. the shooting began next “When the other officers door at Timberland Ford. started coming in, I ran out “Keith, my kitchen of my office and over to manager, was at the Lundy. He was standing up, smoker,” Chesser said. “He holding his side where he’d heard the shots, but at first been shot…so we finally got he thought it was a tool, him to lay down and I took like what they use to take off my sweater and put it lug nuts off. Then he saw under his head. Then I took people running this way. off my shirt and pressed He also saw some people it to where the blood was running into the woods.” coming out.” Just as he made it back Thrift, who has worked at inside the restaurant, they Timberland Ford for about heard banging on the front four months, said she didn’t door. recognize the shooter when “One of the girls ran to she first saw him. look,” Chesser said. “They “I know it was Ed (Earl were shouting, ‘Let us Edward Clague Jr.), but he in. Call 911. Somebody’s Family members rushed to the scene on U.S. 19 South and joined loved ones in waiting as law shooting.’ One of them said, enforcement officers obtained statements from eyewitnesses. ➟ Please see page 5 ‘He saved lives’ Deputy praised as ‘homegrown hero’ The Steinhatchee and a good mom. She is so in class, so they got her so community is wrapping its good with the children (at she wouldn’t hear about it arms around its homegrown Steinhatchee School where from somebody else.” hero, Taylor County she works as a nurse’s aide). Lundy, whose father Sheriff’s Office DeputyA lot of prayers are going Bobby Lundy served on Robert Lundy, who remains out for them.” the Taylor County Board Perryin critical condition at an News-HeraldLundy’s wife firstof Commissioners in the area hospital. received the news of the late 1980s, grew up in Lundy and his family are shooting through a phone Steinhatchee and attended well known, and well-liked, call from a friend. school here in Steinhatchee. in the community, locals “She didn’t believe it. He started working with said. “Then the deputies came Taylor County Sheriff’s “Robert and (his wife) down and got her and Office in March 2004. Kelly are both very Robert’s mother (Linda “He is well liked by caring people. Robert is Fix, who also works at the everyone here. We’re just conscientious and loves school) to take them to the asking everyone to keep his job. He’s a good family hospital. man. Kelly is a hard worker “Their second grader was ➟ Please see page 3 TCSO Deputy Robert Lundy and his family Perry News-Herald One section 125th Year, No. 6 www.perrynewspapers.com Weather Living ..................... A-4 TV listings .............. A-9 Friday 61˚ Saturday 65˚ Sunday 67˚ Religion .................. A-6 Looking Back ....... A-10 Sports .................... A-7 Classifieds .......... A-12 42˚ 48˚ 45˚ Entertainment ........ A-8 20% 60% A-2 Perry News-Herald February 7-8, 2014 Work began this week on the U.S. 19 Fenholloway bridges as part of a Florida Department of Transportation project to clean and repair them. Expect lane closures with work on U.S. 19 Fenholloway bridges The U.S. 19 bridges over sealing the exposed steel and bridge, lane closures occur the Fenholloway River just constructing a new concrete from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday south of Perry are being deck. through Saturday. The speed cleaned and repaired in The southbound bridge, limit is being reduced to a Florida Department of built in 1959, is having its 35 mph on the northbound Transportation (FDOT) deck pressure cleaned and bridge during construction; project which began this sealed. The joints of both the however, the speed limit week. northbound and southbound will remain 45 mph on the The northbound bridges are being replaced. southbound bridge. bridge, built in 1934 and U.S. 19 will remain open FDOT hired M & J reconstructed in 1958, has to traffic with a temporary Construction Company of a surface in need of repair, barrier wall being placed Pinellas County, Inc., of however the structure of the on the northbound bridge. Tarpon Springs at a cost of bridge is in good condition, Daytime lane closures can $666,000. The project is FDOT officials said. Crews be expected Monday through scheduled to be completed are removing up to three Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 in the spring, depending on inches of concrete with a p.m. When work is being weather and other unforeseen high-power stream of water, completed on the southbound circumstances. FDLE chemist arrested Agents with the Florida pills with over-the-counter PPD Capt. Jamie Cruse said Department of Law medications. FDLE agents were here Enforcement, working “The actions of Joseph Tuesday reviewing the cases, with the Escambia County Graves are disgraceful. all of which are from the past Sheriff’s Office, arrested FDLE is working with year. Taylor County Sheriff’s former Pensacola crime State Attorneys’ Offices Office Capt. Ron Rice said laboratory chemist Joseph statewide to ensure he is held FDLE is reviewing two of Graves on charges of grand accountable for his actions,” their cases from the past theft, 12 counts of tampering said FDLE Commissioner three years. with or fabricating physical Gerald Bailey. The FDLE agents were evidence and nine counts of The Perry Police still here Wednesday when trafficking in illegal drugs. Department (PPD) is the shooting occurred Investigators believe Graves, reviewing 20-25 drug cases at Timberland Ford and while processing drug cases, which may have been responded to the scene with replaced prescription pain affected by Graves’ actions. local officers. A-3 Perry News-Herald February 7-8, 2014 Law enforcement and emergency response vehicles filled the highway lanes in front of the Timberland Ford dealership with more than 50 officers and first responders working the scene. (Photo by Wayne Dunwoody) Training credited for making the ‘difference between life and death’ Local law enforcement during a Thursday afternoon last place you’d expect an County Sheriff’s Office, the officers to respond to these you to my fellow sheriffs officials are praising the press conference. act of violence like this to Perry Police Department acts, and all of these officers who have been here with actions of Taylor County “He was in the right place be committed.” and the Lafayette County are to be commended resources and to provide Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) at the right time and acted Cruse credited Sheriff’s Office. for heroic actions on the moral support, and for the Deputy Robert Lundy to protect Taylor County training efforts at both “We’re continually scene.