Men accused of kidnappings, shootings appear in Troup County Magistrate Court

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 9, 2015

3 suspects accused in 2 shootings face judge

By Melanie Ruberti

mruberti@civitasmedia.com

Blackmon

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Godfrey

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/10/web1_Godfrey.jpgGodfrey

Johnson

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/10/web1_Johnson.jpgJohnson

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LaGRANGE — Two men accused of pulling a man outside a Ware Street home and firing a gun at him made their first appearance before a judge Thursday morning in Troup County Magistrate Court.

Alonzo Alexander Blackmon, 52, and DeShaddix Lamonte Godfrey, 23, are both charged with kidnapping, burglary and aggravated assault. Blackmon was additionally charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

LaGrange police detective Ley Wynne said officers responded to a call of a person shot outside a home in the 300 block of Ware Street on Sept. 12.

According to Wynne, the victim told investigators he had an earlier altercation with Godfrey, who was intoxicated when he came to the house on Ware Street. The victim said he told Godfrey to leave the residence.

Wynne told the court that 15 to 20 minutes later, the victim and an eyewitness said Blackmon entered the home with a gun in his hand and pulled the victim out of the house against his will. Godfrey was also there.

The victim was dragged into the street where, he told detectives, Blackmon hit him on the side of the head with the gun, Wynne stated. In the process, the victim told investigators the gun went off.

Wynne testified the victim’s hat had what appeared to be gun residue on the side of it. However, the detective said officers never found a shell casing at the scene or recovered the weapon allegedly used during the crime.

An eyewitness also told police she saw Blackmon with a gun inside the house that night, Wynne added.

Blackmon allegedly told investigators he argued with the victim, but denied having a firearm.

Godfrey stated he was at the scene, but never went into the house or put his hands on the victim during the entire incident.

Presiding Judge Vicki Sue McWaters bound the case against both men and all the charges over to Troup County Superior Court.

Eddie Charles Johnson Jr., 30, of LaGrange, also made his first appearance in Magistrate Court on Thursday.

Johnson was charged with kidnapping, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, two counts of armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

According to LaGrange detective Andrea Scott, Johnson is the prime suspect in the July 3 shooting of a man outside the Bay Food Mart at 1312 Hamilton Road. The victim was shot twice, once in each leg, Scott said.

Scott testified surveillance cameras show both men exchanging words inside the store around 6 a.m. on the day of the incident. Johnson and the victim then walk outside and around the building, where the victim was found shot.

The detective told the court the video does not show the actual shooting, but investigators said Johnson is shown still firing a gun when he walks back into frame.

The victim and an eyewitness later told detectives Johnson was the man with the gun.

Troup County Sheriff’s Investigator Jorge Olmo-Novoa also took the stand to testify in a different case against Johnson.

Olmo-Novoa alleges that Johnson pistol-whipped a man with a gun and then pointed the weapon at another man while the men were trying to sell tools and other items at a home located in the first block of Yarbrough Drive in the early morning hours of Aug. 25.

According to the investigator, Johnson then told the second victim to hand over his cell phone, get into a pickup against his will and drive around the county.

He eventually let the victim go free, stated Olmo-Novoa. But the investigator testified the victim Johnson allegedly pistol-whipped suffered severe injuries to his face, including lacerations and his jaw broken in two places.

Johnson allegedly told TCSO investigators he knew Aaron Creed, the co-defendant in the case, and the injured victim for a long time, but denied all the criminal accusations against him.

McWaters found probable cause on all the charges involving both cases against Johnson to bind them over to Troup County Superior Court.

Melanie Ruberti is a reporter at LaGrange Daily News. She may be reached at 706-884-7311, ext. 2156.