Son comes to father’s aid, shooting ruled self-defense
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Lumberton Police Department (LPD) detectives are wrapping up their investigation into a self-defense fatal shooting on Nov. 15. The shooting occurred at about 7:30 p.m.
It was the first fatal shooting and homicide this year, according to Police Chief Danny Sullins.
"It's a homicide, but it's going to be a justifiable homicide," he added.
Sullins said Waylon Mark Palmore, 51, of Kirbyville, walked into Papa John's Pizza, 200 block of Main Street, got into a verbal altercation with staff members, and walked out with his order.
Witnesses said the man then threw his pizza order across the parking lot and almost hit a 50-year-old Lumberton man who was about to enter the store.
Employees told investigators that Palmore seemed agitated and may have been intoxicated when he picked up his order before the shooting.
Sullins stated Palmore and the man exchanged words, and then Palmore pulled out a 9-mm handgun from his pocket and pointed it at the man.
Sensing his father was in danger, his 22-year-old son, who was legally carrying a 40-caliber handgun in a holster, stepped out of a vehicle and intervened. The son fired five shots, four hitting Palmore and the fifth ricocheted off a metal door panel, striking his father in the wrist.
Palmore was pronounced dead at the scene by Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace Melissa Minton.
Sullins added that Palmore did not fire any shots from his handgun and all weapons were recovered at the scene.
"His gun was in his hand with his finger on the trigger," he said. "It was fully loaded and no bullets had been fired."
Sullins reported Palmore’s body was north of the front door, closer to the father and son’s vehicle, than to his van which was south of the front door.
Sullins said an autopsy was performed on the deceased on Nov. 16. They are awaiting blood test results to see if the victim was intoxicated.
According to his obituary, Palmore worked as a welder. His funeral service was Nov. 19 in Buna.
After undergoing surgery at a Beaumont hospital, the father was released earlier this week and expected to make a full recovery.
Sullins said the son has been "fully cooperative" throughout the investigation.
The father was injured, from a ricochet bullet, underwent surgery at a Beaumont hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, according to Sullins.
Sullins stated the son, who fired the shots, was “fully cooperative throughout the investigation."
He added investigators reviewed surveillance video and took statements from witnesses.
"My detectives and I are satisfied, after talking to everybody, that the young man didn't have a choice," said Sullins. "We are not anticipating any charges being filed against the shooter."
According to the police chief, Palmore had a "criminal history."
Sullins said, like in similar cases, once the detectives get finished with the statements they're getting, it will be sent for review by the Hardin County District Attorney's Office.
He noted that Hardin County District Attorney Rebecca Walton came to the scene, along with several Hardin County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division and members of Lumberton Fire and Rescue.
Lumberton's last fatal shooting and homicide was April 15, 2022, when a man was shot and killed while driving a vehicle on Good Friday.
Raul Rebollar, 34, of Beaumont, was fatally shot from within the occupied vehicle as it traveled the 400 block of Main Street around 6:15 p.m.
Terry Antonio Johnson III, 20, of Beaumont, was arrested on April 22, 2022, and charged with murder in the shooting death of Rebollar.
Johnson and two juveniles were in the vehicle with Rebollar, who was driving. Police said the occupants claimed Rebollar pointed a gun at the adult in the backseat during an argument, and the adult shot and killed Rebollar.