Johnny Craig
Craig was also charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Wallace said police still believe the shooting was an accident.
“None of us feel this was an intentional act,” he said.
Craig was charged with murder because he had a shotgun. “You cannot own, posses, hold or utilize a gun if you are a convicted felon,” Wallace said.
Johnny Craig unintentionally shot his 22-year-old son, Steven L. Craig, Monday at about 7 p.m. off Black’s Bluff Road.
Deputy Coroner Ernie Studard pronounced Steven L. Craig dead at 7:20 p.m. Monday. His body was found 300 yards behind his home at 266 Black’s Bluff Road back in the woods, Studard said.
There were two witnesses in the woods at the time of the shooting and they, along with Johnny Craig, were interviewed. Floyd County Jail reports said Steven Craig was shot in the back.
Wallace could not confirm exactly how the shooting happened because there are discrepancies in the stories by Johnny Craig and the other two witnesses, Wallace said.
Family members were distraught with grief, and Diane Johnson, Steven Craig’s aunt, said the death of her nephew was an accident. She said Steven Craig and his father were in the woods behind the residence hunting squirrels with other male family members.
The family could not be reached Tuesday for comment. Henderson & Sons Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements, which were incomplete Tuesday.
Case in point: many, many moons ago, I worked for a company in an extremely violent neighborhood of a major southern city, a police zone so renowned for murder, robbery and mayhem that it remains legend to this day! Company policy was: employees were to openly carry a sidearm or have instantaneous access to a shotgun at their workstation. During my tenure of nearly seven years, every business on our block was the victim of numerous serious crimes. Strange though, we were never in the category of victim. Wonder why? Furthermore, I have never worked in an environment since were everyone one showed so much respect to one another and common courtesy among employees was extremely common. It is really difficult to get sideways with someone who has a 45 Automatic strapped on their belt. Weapons are a wonderful equalizer. I highly recommend them!