Walnut Hill Man Charged With Shooting Son On Riding Lawn Mower

A Walnut Hill man was jailed Friday night for allegedly shooting his son on a riding lawn mower.

Marshall H. Harmon, 71, was charged with aggravated battery using a deadly weapon for the 7:20 p.m. incident on Breastworks Road about a mile west of North Pine Barren Road.

Harmon and his 32-year old son had become involved in a verbal altercation at a nearby home, deputies said. The son then fled on Breastworks Road on a riding lawn mower, the father following in his pickup truck.

When the elder Harmon pulled alongside his son on the riding mower, Harmon fired two shots in the son’s direction, according to Sgt. Andrew Hobbs, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. It did not immediately appear that Harmon intended to shoot his son, but may have instead accidentally hit him.

One of the shots hit the son in the neck, but the officials said the wound did not appear to be life threatening. The son was airlifted by Lifeguard helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.

Harmon was taken into custody without incident at the scene of the shooting and remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $25,000.

Pictured top: Suspect Marshall Harmon stands against his truck (far left background) as an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy (center) checks a weapon Harmon allegedly used to shoot his son Friday night on Breastworks Road. Pictured bottom inset: A deputy explains charges to Harmon. Pictured bottom: The shooting victim was airlifted from a field on Breastworks Road to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.