GAS STATION ROBBERY CHASE AND SHOOTING 2007
Two men were arrested earlier this morning after they were involved in an armed robbery and fled from police. The incident began just before 1 a.m. at Circle K, 2020 W. Cervantes St., as McKinley Lanier, 47, of 1664 Dogwood Place, Pensacola, was finishing pumping gas into his vehicle and was approached by one of the suspects, later identified as Marvin Watts, 26, of 3774 Frontier, Pensacola. Lanier said he noticed Watts had a gun and that he and the suspect “tussled” with the weapon. He said Watts jerked a gold necklace off his neck and shot him twice in the left knee. Meanwhile, Watts and another man fled the scene. A short time later, Officers Jim Bell and Pearce Baker, who were in an unmarked vehicle, spotted the truck in the Montclair area. As the officers tried to make contact with the suspects, they fled in the truck. Officers followed the suspects until Watts bailed out in the 3800 block of Hollywood Boulevard and fled on foot. The truck, driven by the other suspect, then collided with a cruiser driven by Officer Shawn Thompson. That suspect was identified as Fred Taylor, 24, of 4523 Ellysee Way, Pensacola. A K-9 search was conducted for Watts, who was found in some nearby woods where he was apprehended but not before grabbing Thompson by the head and chest and struggling with him. Taylor was charged with fleeing and attempting to elude. He also was arrested on an outstanding Escambia County warrant for violation of probation. Watts was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, armed robbery, battery on a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer without violence. He also was wanted in Escambia County on a warrant for escape. Detective Andrew Nadeau, who is investigating the case, said a handgun believed to have been used in the incident was found this morning on Hollywood Boulevard. Lanier was taken to Baptist Hospital where he was treated and released.