Two more jailed in Century shooting

Incident left one dead, two others being shot

Two suspects wanted in connection with a shooting in Century last week that left one dead and two injured join a third suspect arrested a day earlier, charged in the same incident.

Tacorius Cordale Stallworth, 22, 751 Freedom Road, and Kiauna Shanne Grice, 30, 1012 Backwoods, Road, were arrested Dec. 3 and are being held without bond following a shooting incident at 8270 Alger Road in Century on Nov. 30 that left Joseph Christopher Smith dead and two other victims injured, according to an Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff's office report. A third suspect, Jaran Britt Myles, 26, 303 B Backwoods Road, was the first suspect arrested.

When deputies arrived on scene, two males, later identified as Xavier Demarquese Walker and Lavor Chante Johnson were sitting in front of a mobile home. The two victims told deputies they had been shot and advised their friend, Smith, had been shot and as lying near the shed next to the mobile home.

Deputies noticed blood on Smith's clothing and he was not breathing, the report said. EMS arrived shortly after and verified Smith was deceased. Walker and Johnson were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital and treated for their injuries.

Deputies interviewed Johnson and Walker about the shooting at the hospital. Walker said Stallworth, Myles and an unidentified male approached his vehicle when it was parked at the location and pointed guns at him, forcing him out of his vehicle. Walker had seen and spoken to the three males earlier that evening at the Food Mart and he recognized them from the 'neighborhood', the report noted. He said they told him not to look at them and he thought they might kill him due to his recognition of them, according to the report.

Walker said the three males slapped him to the ground, then made him get to his feet, when they began beating him on the head with a gun, telling him not to look at them.

Walker said the suspects walked him over to the shed next to the mobile home and told him to knock on the door, pointing a gun to the back of his head. Walker was ordered to say, 'It's XA' when asked who it was. Walker complied with their demands and the door was opened.

The report said when the door opened, the three males pushed past Walker and forced their way into the shed. Walker said he went to the side of the shed and heard one say from inside, “Where's the other one?” and Stallworth came out of the shed.

Walker said he told Stallworth “I'm down, I didn't see nothin,”and jumped on the ground, then Stallworth shot him in the leg.

Walker stated all three males had guns during the incident, the report said.

Walker told deputies he crawled away and hid until the three males left the scene. He said the three males took Smith outside of the shed before they shot him and the reason he was killed was money.

The other gunshot victim, Johnson, said he was walking back from the store around 10 p.m., Nov. 30, and was picked up in a vehicle driven by Smith. The report said Johnson and Smith went into the shed at the location on Alger Road.

Johnson corroborated the account of events Walker stated and told investigators one of the males pointed a gun directly at his head, then shot him in the leg.

Johnson stated the three males asked “Where's the money?” and “Stop playin with us!” to Smith before they took him outside the shed, the report said. Smith told the males, “Ain't no money.”

Johnson said he heard numerous gunshots and saw Smith lying on the ground. He said the three males began celebrating, firing their guns and yelled racial slurs before they fled the scene.

On Dec. 2, deputies interviewed Stallworth, who told them on Nov. 30 around 11 p.m., he had been in his vehicle, driven by a female named Annasty Brown and another female, Grice was with them.

Stallworth said the three had driven to the Food Mart at 7933 Century Boulevard, where he spoke to Walker, confirming Walker's account.

Stallworth said Myles got in the car with him, Grice and Brown and they rode around Century before they parked in a church parking lot that was close to 8270 Alger Road.

The report said Stallworth told authorities Myles and Grice started shooting and shot Walker and Johnson and then shot Smith numerous times as he fell to the ground.

Walker later identified Grice in a photo line-up as one who had participated in the murder of Smith, the report noted.

Grice, Stall worth and Myles were arrested and charged with homicide, aggravated battery and home invasion with a deadly weapon with no bond.