According to police Chief James Godfrey, at approximately 11:03 pm on August 13th, officers of the Baxley Police Department and the Appling County Sheriff’s Office answered a call to a Clay Homes apartment in reference to shots being fired and one person being shot.
On arrival, officers discovered that two people had been wounded. Units from the EMS and the EMA were called to the scene to assist the injured, who were then transported to the Appling Healthcare E.R. for further medical treatment.
The scene was secured, as officers canvased the area for the shooter. Several people were interviewed in attempts of discovering the identity and location of the shooter. After a time, the identity of the shooter was discovered. A lookout was then posted to all officers, who were told to use caution as the person was still armed and dangerous.
Upon officers arriving at the E.R. to follow up on the incident, they discovered that another person was at the E.R. where he was being treated for his injuries he sustained during the incident at Clay Homes. Investigation into the incident revealed that an altercation had taken place at 600 Clay Homes in which a person had went to the apartment and confronted the tenant and her guests and then discharged several rounds from a small caliber firearm, striking all three persons.
Two of the persons who were shot, (Evelyn McCal Williams, age 60 and Shawn Mobley age 45, both of Baxley) were treated and later transferred to Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah. A third person, Freddie Joe King, age 54 of Baxley, passed away from injuries he sustained during the incident.
After a brief search, the shooter, (Rodney Mobley, age 52 of Baxley) was located and taken into custody without incident by officers of the Appling County Sheriff’s Office. Mobley is currently in custody on charges of one count each of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, murder, and three counts each of possession of a firearm during a crime, and aggravated assault. These charges are pending further judicial proceedings.
The GBI and their crime scene technicians were called in to assist in this investigation.
Chief Godfrey would like to express his thanks to all the agencies and to the citizens of Baxley and Appling County for their assistance of support of local law enforcement during this incident.