Authorities now say a Williamsburg tow truck operator has formally been charged with murder and first-degree wanton endangerment in the wake of a shooting late Friday that ended in the death of a Woodbine resident.
Larry Wilson, 55, owner of Wilson’s Towing in Williamsburg, has said little to police about why he shot and killed 38-year-old Todd Carter in the parking lot of the Root Beer Stand in Corbin. He will likely be arraigned in Whitley District Court on Monday on the charges.
"He hasn’t told us anything," said Corbin Police Sgt. Bill Rose, the lead investigator in the case. "All he did was request a lawyer. That’s it."
The shooting happened at about 10:00 p.m. Friday. Police were on the scene within minutes after a 911 call was made reporting the incident. They were able to detain Wilson, who was still sitting in his tow truck when they arrived. He was taken into custody without a struggle and the gun used in the shooting, a 9mm pistol, was recovered from his truck.
Police say Wilson fired a single shot at Carter through the open window of his tow truck, striking him the armpit area. Initially, authorities said Carter assaulted Wilson immediately prior to the shooting, but are now investigating that part of the case with a little more scrutiny. Wilson had bleeding wound below his left eye visible when he was taken to the police department for questioning. Rose said Wilson did not struggle with police and was in no way injured by officers during his arrest.
The bullet Wilson fired passed through Carter and hit a vehicle parked next to Wilson’s tow truck in the rear passenger side. Wilson faces an additional charge of wanton endangerment, police say, because a small child was seated in the vehicle near where the bullet hit. Authorities have yet to find the bullet, but plan to comb the area again Saturday night with thermal imaging cameras in an attempt to locate it.
"Hopefully after the sun heats things up a bit today, the heat signature of the bullet will show up on the camera," Rose said.
Police used a metal detector and the cameras to look for the bullet Friday but were unsuccessful.
Rose said Wilson had a permit to carry a concealed deadly weapon and added the gun used in the shooting did not appear to be stolen or illegally obtained.
For customers of the Root Beer Stand, the incident was traumatic.
"I was ordering my food and I heard a gunshot," said Patty Shelton, a customer at the Root Beer Stand at the time of the shooting. "At first I thought it was some kids playing with firecrackers or something, then I seen him [Carter] coming back and he fell on the car. Then people just told me to run."
Shelton said she panicked, got out of her car and sought safety in the restroom.
According to Root Beer Stand owner Willie Champlin, Carter approached Wilson’s tow truck from the opposite side of the drive-in restaurant. Soon after, chaos erupted.
"I’ve got four girls working out there and they all came in screaming ‘Call 911! Call 911! They were panicked," Champlin said. "They were shouting so loud I couldn’t find out why they wanted me to call 911. Then finally somebody told me Todd had got shot."
Champlin said Carter, whose wife is an employee at the Root Beer Stand, was still conscious when police and EMS personnel arrived. Some customers tried to stop the bleeding with napkins and towels until he could be transported to the hospital.
"In 40 years we’ve never had anything like this," Champlin said. "We’ve had a fist fight or two out in the parking lot before, but that’s about it … nothing this serious."
As for Wilson, witnesses say he never made any attempt to elude authorities.
"He never ran. He never even got out of his truck as far as I know," Champlin said. "The police came and got him. They put him on the ground and put him in the car and that was it."
A large pool of blood was clearly visible near where Carter collapsed to the ground. A small pool of blood could be seen near the driver’s side door of Wilson’s tow truck.
Rose said he interviewed about five people regarding the case Friday and plans to talk to many more in the coming days. He said he still does not yet know what kind of disagreement between the two men may have led to the shooting.
"I just don’t know a whole lot right now," Rose said. "Obviously, Carter had some kind of problem with the tow truck driver and he confronted him but that is about all I know."
Police strung crime scene tape around much of the perimeter of the Root Beer Stand shortly after the shooting. The restaurant was closed for the remainder of the evening. Police and Corbin Fire Department personnel were searching for shell casings and other forensic evidence after the shooting.
Authorities confirmed early Saturday morning that Carter passed away at Baptist Regional Medical Center. Whitley County Cororner Andy Croley has ordered an autopsy be performed.
Larry Wilson, of Williamsburg, is led to the Corbin Police Department after allegedly shooting another man late Friday at the Root Beer Stand in Corbin.
