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Second arrest made in Level Plains murder
Oct 28 2009 12:00AM By Melissa Braun Sun Staff Writer
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The second man believed to have participated in the shooting death of a Level Plains man is now in custody thanks to an anonymous tip.
Everett Rico Newson, 24, is in custody at the Dale County Jail after more than a week on the lam.
Investigators had been searching for Newson after receiving information he was involved in the Oct. 18 murder of Marcus Blackmon, 43.
Dale County Sheriff’s Department investigators received a tip Monday that Newson could be found in Abbeville, said Sheriff Wally Olson.
“We located Newson hiding in a closet in an Abbeville home. He was armed at the time with a handgun,” Olson said.
Officers were able to take the suspect into custody before the situation became violent and he was charged with capital murder.
Newson’s arrest is the second made in connection with Blackmon’s murder.
Jarmon Demetrius Barrow, 23, was taken into custody Oct. 20 by agents with the Wiregrass Drug Task Force and DCSD and charged with the capital murder of Blackmon, 43.
According to Level Plains Police Chief Lanice Bonds, Barrow and Newson allegedly entered Blackmon’s home on Dale County Road 109 a little after 8 p.m. Oct. 18 and confronted Blackmon and two females at the residence.
“The subjects inquired about drugs and money,” he said, but added that a witness said the men did not find what they were looking for. “From there, one of the subjects struck one of the females in the head with what appeared to be a pistol. Blackmon was then shot in the chest.”
A witness to the shooting reported that Blackmon appeared to have been shot with a semi-automatic assault rifle, but it has now been determined Blackmon was shot with a 9 mm handgun.
Olson said it has not been determined if the handgun that was found in Newson’s possession was the same gun used to murder Blackmon at this time.
“Blackmon was dead when we arrived at the scene,” Bonds said.
The female, who was struck with a pistol, was taken by rescue squad to Medical Center Enterprise where she was treated and released.
She has since been cooperating with law enforcement during the ongoing investigation.
Barrow and Newson are believed to have searched Blackmon’s home before fleeing by foot into a nearby wooded area.
Law enforcement from Level Plains, Daleville and the DCSD searched the wooded area surrounding Blackmon’s home throughout the night of the murder.
The search included the use of the DSCD helicopter and tracking dogs from a state penitentiary.
In spite of the effort, however, the men escaped.
It is now believed that Barrow and Newson were driven by a third individual.
The individual, Olson said, has questioned by investigators, but has not been formally charged.
Evidence against the individual believed to have driven the getaway car will be presented to a Dale County grand jury.
“This was a drug-related crime,” said Bonds. “It is important for people to know that this was an isolated event and that the streets of Level Plains are still safe.”
©Southeast Sun 2009
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