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Holmes County Sheriff Updates Shooting From Early Morning


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Posted by: JRTyson
[email protected]
Date: May 29 2023 7:46 PM


Sheriff Tate met with members of the press this afternoon to give a brief overview of a fatal shooting that occurred in Bonifay early this morning.




It is important to remember that this is an ongoing investigation and many pertinent details will not be available until other portions of the investigative process are complete.




At 3:23 a.m., Holmes County Communications received a 911 call from a female guest at the Holiday Inn Express in Bonifay stating she accidentally shot another individual while attempting to remove a handgun from a personal gun safe.




At 3:26 a.m., the first HCSO deputy arrived on the scene and located the both the caller and the victim in room 102 of the hotel. Deputies immediately called for EMS, who transported the victim to Doctors Memorial Hospital. The victim, identified as 45-year-old Steven Lamar Hall, succumbed to his injuries a short time later.




The suspect, 58-year-old Lois Kay Merkel, was taken to the Holmes County Sheriff's Office for questioning.




During a preliminary search of the room, deputies located methamphetamine, marijuana, and prescription medications.




Merkel will be charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Additional charges are expected, pending the results of the autopsy, input from the state attorney's office, and further investigation.


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