Victim's wife and mother report threats and couldn't be located to testify in the hearing
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After two days of testimony in a combination of an Aniah's Law hearing and preliminary hearing, Escambia County District Judge Eric Coale set a $300,000 bond for Bradford C. Eusea on the murder charge involving the shooting death of Tanner Coleman of Flomaton.
Eusea, 67, of DeFuniac Springs is charged with shooting and killing Coleman, 26, on June 23 inside Eusea's fiancee's house located at 20411 Highway 31 in Flomaton. Officers stated that Eusea was taken into custody without incident following the shooting.
Court records and testimony show that Eusea was at Kathy Chumley's residence on June 23. Colman is married to Chumley's daughter, Brianna Coleman.
On June 23, Flomaton police were dispatched to Chumley's residence in reference to someone being shot. When police arrived Eusea exited the house with his hands up and was taken into custody. Police entered the residence and found Coleman face down with a bullet wound from a.357 caliber pistol.
Last Thursday, Flomaton Police Chief Dereck Lowry testified that Officer Wayne Longmire was the first person on the scene. Lowry said he responded about 20 minutes later.
Lowry testified that when he arrived, Eusea was already in the back seat of a patrol vehicle.
Lowry also noted that Eusea had no injuries related to the altercation with Coleman, noting the bandage on his head was due to having cancer removed.
Lowry also testified that Chumley and Brianna Coleman were interviewed at the scene.
Lowry also testified that Eusea had sent text messages to the Colmans stating "If y'all come over here, we'll see what y'all are made of".
Lowry testified that Mrs. Coleman arrived first and Eusea met her at the door with a firearm pointed at her. Witnesses said Brianna Coleman tried to push the gun away and they struggled.
According to witnesses, Tanner Coleman pulled up and pushed his wife out of the way then Eusea "came straight up and fired a shot and Tanner Coleman went to the ground".
District Attorney Steve Billy asked Chief Lowry if he thought Eusea was a flight risk and Lowry said he believed so.
"From information we've gathered, he's supposed to have family with the means to get him out of the country," Lowry stated.
Defense Attorney Earnie White questioned Lowry on the chief's assumption that Eusea's family had the means to get him out of the country and asked Lowry if that's why he felt Eusea shouldn't be given a bond.
"Well, I believe I wouldn't give him a bond," Lowry said.
"So based on that?" White asked.
"Based on the fact that he just killed someone," Lowry answered.
Lowry also testified that Chumley said Eusea and Coleman had issues in the past.
"Did she tell you what about?" White asked.
"No sir, she just said the two of them didn't jive very well," Lowry answered.
Lowry also testified that Chumley said she didn't want Eusea back in her house if he got out of jail.
Lowry also said there was some video where Eusea referred to Brianna and Coleman as "Two fat ass pigs getting married' and stating they "were pieces of crap".
Lowry also testified that the messages telling the Colemans to come over so he would see what they were made of were sent to Mr. Coleman's telephone, since Mrs. Coleman had him blocked.
Thursday's hearing was continued due to some of the defense witnesses not being served subpoenas in time.
White told the judge Tuesday that Brianna Coleman and Chumley could still not be located, but he would not ask for another continuance.
Testimony indicated Brianna Coleman and Chumley had been receiving threats and officers testified they had no idea where they were.
Longmire testified that when he arrived, Eusea was immediately taken into custody and he went into the house and immediately began administering first aid to Coleman.
Longmire and EMT Trista Smith both testified that Coleman had no pulse and had quit breathing before being loaded into the ambulance.
In addition to the $300,000 bond, Judge Coale also ordered Eusea to be fitted with a GPS monitor and placed under house arrest, only to leave his residence for work, church, school and medical or legal appointments. He also ordered Eusea not to possess any deadly weapons and have no contact with the family of Tanner Coleman. Eusea is also ordered to surrender his passport if he has one.
