A Facebook post by Tracie Williams Pugh has ignited a call for justice after her son was threatened with a firearm while hanging out with friends at the Sonic Drive-In on Washington Road in Evans.
The post, which expressed anger and frustration, detailed the harrowing encounter on the evening of March 3 when a white male reportedly drew a pistol on the Pugh’s black son, Carson. According to the post, Carson promptly dialed 911, and although the assailant fled the scene, Carson managed to capture a photo of the license plate.
However, the response from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has left the family feeling dissatisfied. The responding officer allegedly took statements from Carson and a witness, but failed to provide a case number or a means for follow-up communication. Additionally, the officer reportedly only shared the case number with Sonic staff, leaving Carson’s family in the dark.
THE VIDEO:
The Pughs took matters into their own hands, visiting Sonic to review surveillance footage with the general manager, only to discover that the manager with access to the video had not yet arrived. Frustrated, they visited the sheriff’s substation to request a copy of the incident report, only to be told they could only release it to Carson, who is 18 years old.
After obtaining the report and meeting with deputies, the family was assured that the matter would be taken seriously, and they were advised to expect contact from a criminal investigator soon.
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Sheriff’s Maj. Steve Morris said Monday that the family has yet to allow Carson to provide a statement to them. The agency has talked to the driver who pulled the gun, who said he feared for his safety as the teen came at him. The major also emphasized that no shots were fired and no one was hurt.
“We have been asking for (a statement) for over a week. But mommy and daddy want us to go through them to get any information from him, who is 18. Now, an attorney is involved,” Maj. Morris said. “All we want is a simple statement to what (Carson) said and heard. And then a decision will be made on whether to prosecute.”
Despite her efforts to request an updated police report, Pugh expressed dismay that the sheriff’s office refused to disclose the suspect’s name, which she believed should be public information. Maj. Morris said the man’s name would be released at the conclusion of the case, but the son’s statement is critical to completing the probe.
Undeterred, the Pughs attempted to gather more information by contacting rental car companies to trace the vehicle associated with the incident, only to be met with policy restrictions.
The mother’s post, which included a photo of the vehicle’s license plate, urged the public to share and help locate the individual responsible, with a vow to press charges once identified.
