One arrested for grocery store parking lot shooting

CANTONMENT, Fla. (WALA) - A man is in jail after police say he shot his estranged wife’s new boyfriend during a fight in Cantonment.

Coy Carter had to be taken to the hospital after allegedly shooting the victim while returning his children to their mother in the parking lot of Advantage Grocery on Highway 29.

Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says Carter and the victim, his ex-wife’s boyfriend, got into an altercation.

"During that fight, Coy Carter pulled a gun and shot the other gentleman in the knee," said Matt Baxter with the ECSO.

Authorities arrived at the scene within minutes and transported Carter and the victim, who is in stable condition, to a local hospital.

Authorities say Carter, who is from Robertsdale, Ala., was released from the hospital and arrested. He’s being held in Escambia County jail under battery, aggravated battery, firing a weapon and cruelty towards a child charges.

The incident has left many locals with more questions than answers.

Residents said they were shocked to hear about the shooting because those types of crimes don't often happen in Cantonment. Kenneth Smith has lived in the area for 30 years.

He says he heard about the crime Monday morning.

"I was surprised, very surprised. But there are a lot of shootings happening around in the area and especially in Pensacola," Smith said.

What shocked some, including deputies, was that Carter's children were close by when he allegedly fired the gun.

Baxter said, "Because the children were around in that dangerous situation, he's being charged with child abuse. It makes you think that anything could have happened. The round could have ricocheted and hit someone else."

Deputies say they're just glad no one else was hurt, or worse, killed.