Editor attacked on Wednesday - Shots fired on Saturday
Editor by MCL staff writer

Multiple bullet holes shot through Liberal windows Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

Things at the Miller County Liberal were not the same old thing Wednesday morning, when Mark Merritt, 56, of 204 Avenue Road stormed into the newspaper office and attacked Terry Toole, editor and publisher, and terrorized two other employees and Toole's 93-year-old motherin law, Uva Mason.

According to witnesses and the investigative report, Mark Stephen Merritt on the morning of Wednesday, June 6, threw open the front door at the Liberal, and shouted, "Where is that son of a bitch, Terry Toole?"

As he stormed through the office, one of the employees ran into another building to call 911 to send help.

Toole was working at his computer with his back to the front door and didn't hear Merritt until he was back of him at his chair.

According to Toole, Merritt hollered, "What did you say to my wife?" He then grabbed Toole by the neck while he was still sitting and said, "I'll snatch your head off."

At that time, Mrs. Mason, who was sitting behind Toole at a table inserting papers, started screaming for Merritt to stop choking Toole. As Toole got up, he broke the choke hold and Merritt turned to Mrs. Mason and said, "Shut your damn mouth, old lady."

Police officers investigate shooting incident at Miller County Liberal office.

In between screams, Mrs. Mason told the brute of a man, whom she didn't know, "That's no way to speak to an old lady."

Toole told Merritt he had better get out of the office, right now, or he was going to get hurt. Toole had been forewarned that Merritt said he was "going to get him." Toole stated that Merritt went to his truck parked in the front and sped off on North First Street.

According to the incident report, the assault was called in to the 911 operator at 11:13 rived at the scene at 11:16 a.m. The Emergency Medical Service arrived minutes later when Mrs. Mason got where she could not breathe. She was taken to the emergency room of the hospital by ambulance for observation.

The 93-year-old lady was later released and stated that she had two black men break into her home while she was there, and it did not scare her as bad as this incident.

The officers were unable to find Merritt at the time, and a few minutes later, it was reported that he was at the sheriff's office.

Colquitt Police officer, Hollis Smith was the reporting officer. The investigation was turned over to Assistant Police Chief Jason Wells, and warrants were taken by the officer. Mark S. Merritt was arrested and charged with terroristic threats and acts in violation of Ga. Code 16-11-37 and simple battery (over 65) in violation of Ga. Code 16-5-23.

The suspect was bonded out under a $22,100 bond shortly after the arrest.

Shooting Incident

On Sunday evening, June 10, Toole went to his office at approximately 4:00 p.m. to find that the front of the office had multiple bullet holes riddling the building. Toole went inside and called 911 to request investigators to check out the shooting incident.

Colquitt Police officer Lonnie Wade came to the scene and called Police Investigator Rick Morgan to do the scene investigation. A number of bullets were found embedded in the walls and all around the office. The evidence indicated that the incident was done possibly by a ride-by shooter or shooters, who kept shooting all the way down to the Colquitt/Miller Arts Building. One shot went into that building with several more going into the wall.

Evidence was gathered by the Colquitt Police Department and will be sent to the state crime lab.

The shooting occurred between June 9, at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 10, at approximately 4:00 p.m. when the damage was discovered by Toole.

Toole stated, The place was pretty shot up. There was a good bit of damage over the office. as the bullets were in the walls, plaques, lamp, books and possibly places that we haven't found yet. It's pretty bad when they start shooting up the newspaper or anywhere else. I'm just glad no one was there at the time. The shooter/shooters didn't seem to care if anyone was in the office or around or not. I'm glad no one got hurt in the mafia looking shooting. There is no excuse for any of this, and those guilty should pay for the crime with their time. "

Chief Scott Worsley stated that his department will question suspects and do everything possible to find out who the shooter/shooters might be.

The shooting incident is thought to have stemmed from the events that have been reported on the Miller County School System and the Miller County Board of Commissioners since February.

The Colquitt Police Department is questioning suspects at this time, and probable arrests will be made in the near future on the shootings, as well as those who have been accomplices to the crimes committed.