One teen shot, another jailed

An added law enforcement presence was at Escambia County High School and Escambia County Middle School Wednesday following a Tuesday incident where a high school student was shot off campus and another high school student has been arrested and charged with attempted murder.

De'Andre Lamar Mitchell, 17, 1440 Tumbling Lane, Atmore, a senior at Escambia County High School, was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of another 17-year old ECHS student, who is a junior. Due to the nature of the crime, Mitchell was automatically adjudicated as an adult.

During a bond hearing Wednesday afternoon before District Judge Jeff White, Mitchell was issued a $100,000 bond with stipulations if he is released he has no contact with the victim, identified in court as Trenton Atchinson, or the intended victim, indicating the gun shots were not intended for Atchinson. Mitchell is also ordered to be under house arrest with a GPS monitor and possess no firearms if released from jail.

Mitchell had apparently gotten into an altercation at the high school earlier that day and was suspended prior to the shooting.

According to law enforcement reports, Atmore police officers were dispatched at 4:08 p.m. Tuesday to Atmore Community Hospital in reference to a gunshot wound victim being treated in the emergency room. Atmore police reported emergency personnel said the 17-year old's injuries were life threatening from a gunshot wound that punctured his lung, then struck his spine, leaving the teenager paralyzed.

Police reported that the victim was able to identify Mitchell as the shooter. The victim was then transported by helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola and remains in serious condition.

Witnesses said about five or six shots were fired from a vehicle near the 300 block of East 4th Street, where several teenagers, including the victim, were outside. During Wednesday's court hearing the name of the intended victim was not mentioned.

Atmore police reported evidence was collected at the scene and the scene had been turned over to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Police also stated Mitchell later arrived at the police department with his mother and, after speaking with an investigator, was arrested on the attempted murder charge and transported to the Escambia County Detention Center.

Escambia County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said during the investigation, officers received information of a possible retaliation at the high school, middle school or in the neighborhood.

As a result of that information, additional law enforcement personnel were in place at the high school and middle school Wednesday.

ECHS Principal Dennis Fuqua said the school system partnered with the Atmore Police Department and the sheriff's office for the additional presence to make sure the students and families feel more comfortable about having a safe school environment. He added the additional law enforcement presence will continue for a period of time.

Fuqua also said counselors were on hand to talk to students if requested and additional counselors were on standby if needed.