A Steens man injured in what police are calling a “justified” shooting remains in jail after a Dec. 12 incident.
Michael Raymond Parker, 34, of 380 Honeysuckle Drive in Steens, was arrested Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle on charges of cyberstalking, e-mail communication to extort or threaten harm.
Parker remains in custody at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center.
Lawrence Hodgson, the man who shot Parker, is out on bond.
According to Cpl. Eli Perrigin, a detective with the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office, Parker was taken to the hospital for treatment after he was shot sometime after 2 a.m. on Dec. 12.
“He was shot in the lower body area. He was treated and released, then we arrested him on a cyberstalking charge,” Perrigin said.
Perrigin added Parker has an additional charge of violation of a restraining order.
Though authorities say Hodgson, 36, of 302 Martinwood Road in Eden, N.C., was justified in the shooting, he was arrested for possession of a weapon by a felon. Hodgson”s prior felony conviction, the details of which were unknown by press time, stems from an incident in North Carolina.
Hodgson was arrested Dec. 12 at 2:40 a.m. at 380 Honeysuckle Drive. Authorities declined to comment on the nature of the incident, since the investigation is ongoing.
Perrigin said no motive has been determined in the shooting.
“Parker violated a restraining order. He was on property he was not supposed to be on, and he was shot,” he said.
According to Pat Tuggle of the records division at LCSO, both Parker and Hodgson made an initial appearance in Lowndes County Justice Court on Wednesday. Hodgson was released on a $2,500 bond, while Parker remains in custody.
“On the violation of the restraining order, Parker was ordered to serve six months; no bond was set on that. A $5,000 bond has been set on the cyberstalking charge,” Tuggle said.
“There are some things still to check out,” said Perrigin. “When we finish, we will present our findings to the Lowndes County grand jury.”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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