Atmore man jailed for murder

An Atmore man remains in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton without bond after being charged with murder in the shooting death of another Atmore resident Saturday morning.

Charles DeWayne Walker, 25, 1214 North Main St., Lot 13, was arrested about two hours after the reported shooting death of Okeema Renard McCants.

During a bond hearing Tuesday before District Judge Eric Coale, the judge ordered Walker to be held without bond, but ordered an Aniah's Law hearing for 11 a.m. Friday to determine if Walker is entitled to a bond.

According to reports from the Atmore Police Department, about 10:55 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, officers responded to the area of Martin Luther King Avenue and Bragg Street in reference to shots being fired.

When officers arrived they discovered McCants had been struck multiple times with gunfire. Officers administered first aid until MedStar Ambulance paramedics arrived. McCants was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Witnesses told police McCants was driving on Martin Luther King Avenue when he stopped to try and stop a physical altercation between a group of males in the street. Police said multiple shots were fired shortly after McCants tried to intervene and he was shot.

Witnesses were able to provide a description of the suspect and the vehicle he was driving and about two hours later Walker was taken into custody.

When Walker was arrested, police reported he was in possession of a Glock .9mm handgun that was reported stolen and Walker was also wanted by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for theft of property.

Police said the investigation continues as officers attempt to identify the people involved in the original altercation.

Court records show Walker told police he had purchased the firearm from someone he didn't know, who retrieved the weapon from the trunk of their car.