PRESS RELEASE
On Saturday evening, July 20, 2019 Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a report of an altercation that turned violent, which involved a white male and a white female confronting a family, then the white male shooting at the family multiple times. This incident occurred in the area of the Cow Creek Grade off US Hwy 98. The family had attempted to flee the area, and reported that they were chased by the male and female, who were in a pickup truck. The victims stated that shots continued to be fired at them as they attempted to get away.
The family, including four children, fled the area and advised that none of them were physically injured. Deputies along with Perry Police Officers responded to the area, making contact with the victims who were visibly shaken and traumatized from the incident. Other Deputies responding to the location discovered an abandoned vehicle in the area off US Hwy 98 just west of Poor Spot Cemetery that matched the description of the vehicle which the alleged shooter was in.
Because of the nature of the incident, additional agencies’ assistance was requested. TCSO K9 Sgt. Kyle Johnson was called out to respond, along with a K9 unit from Perry Police Department. FLDOC K9 Teams from Taylor CI, Mayo CI, Cross City CI, and Jefferson CI were also activated. Deputies from Wakulla County SO and Jefferson County SO also responded, along with many Florida Highway Patrol Troopers and FWC units from surrounding areas. A perimeter was set up and due to the information that the subject was armed and potentially dangerous, aerial support was requested from Leon County SO Aviation Unit.
The manhunt resulted in the apprehension of a white female who had been tracked and located deep in the woods, running from the abandoned vehicle. The white female fit the description provided by the victims. The white female was identified as Misty Dawn Carter. Post Miranda Warning, Misty Carter admitted to driving the vehicle and following the family down the highway. She also admitted that her brother, Billy Joe Carter, Jr. was in possession of a handgun. Misty Carter was placed under arrest, and charged with Resisting Without Violence and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, as she was responsible for driving the vehicle as her brother fired a weapon at the victims.
After an exhaustive search that ended in the early hours of Sunday morning, Billy Joe Carter, Jr. was not located. However, Billy Joe Carter, Jr. turned himself over to law enforcement authorities at the Taylor County Jail on Sunday evening, without further incident. His charges include Aggravated Assault With a Deadly Weapon, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Resisting Without Violence.
Sheriff Padgett thanks each and everyone of the surrounding law enforcement agencies that assisted in response to this incident. He also credits the resolution of this incident to the diligence of TCSO Deputies and the cooperation of the public, who responded quickly to TCSO’s original Facebook post of the suspect at large, sharing the initial Facebook post over four hundred times, and being viewed by over twenty-two thousand people.
carter3
