By Daniel L. Bamberg
Daniel@Centrevillepress.com
Woodstock Police Officer, Sergeant Jason Beams couldn't have known exactly what sort of strange occurrence was to be discovered as he responded to a dispatch for a burglary in progress.
The incident occurred at 214 McKelroy Drive in Woodstock between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 21st. While in route, Beams was advised that the subject had been shot. Upon arrival he spoke with James Michael Simpson who had been shot in his left hand. Simpson walked out of his door to go to work. As he approached his S-10 Blazer, he noticed a man was inside the vehicle. Simpson called the police, and then walked outside with a knife. He then approached the offender, telling him to stay where he was until the police arrived. The robber pulled a silver revolver, but Simpson grabbed it. During a struggle to get the gun away from the thief the gun fired, striking Simpson's left hand. It fired a second time. Simpson believed this time it hit the offender in the leg. After this the robber fled on foot. Simpson told Sgt. Beams that the thief was wearing jeans, a dark sweater and a black hat.
Once rescue arrived Beams checked the vehicle. He noticed the window from the driver side door of the truck was knocked out. Glass was inside of the vehicle and there were pry marks on the top of the door. Beams also noticed a small amount of blood in the seat. After assessing the damage Beams asked Simpson a few more questions. Simpson explained that he did not know who the robber was, but that his first name was Matt. Beams confused, asked Simpson how he knew the offender's first name. Simpson said he asked for his name while he was trying to keep him still. The offender replied, "My name is Matt." Simpson was soon transported to UAB-Bessemer.
Soon after, Beams got a call to be in route to 138 Nelson Lane in Woodstock. The subject of that call was needed medical attention for a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Beams arrived at that scene with Bibb County Sheriff's Deputy Ralph Burnell. When they entered the residence Kenneth Blackman was lying on the bathroom floor. Beams asked Blackman to explain what happened. Blackman said he shot himself. Beams asked for the gun. Blackman suggested it was under his bed. Upon investigation Beams discovered a silver .38 Smith and Wesson revolver under the bed. Beams noticed the six-gun was missing two rounds as it still held four live rounds in the chamber. At this point rescue was attending the Blackman, but Beams noticed the subject was wearing a dark sweater and jeans. Rescue workers pulled the sweater off of Blackman and Beams picked it up only to notice several items in the pockets. Of these items burglary tools and two digital cameras were found. One camera contained a picture James Michael Simpson in its memory. Blackman stated he found the camera on the road.
At this point Beams must have known without a doubt that the robber from McKelroy Drive was the subject lying on the floor with a bullet in leg, and a mysterious picture of the McKelroy victim on the camera in the pocket of Blackman's dark sweater. Beams then asked Blackman to tell him the truth. Blackman then explained he walked over to McKelroy Drive got into a fight with Simpson and was thrown into the window. Then, according the Blackman, Simpson, who he could not identify by name pulled a knife. In retaliation Blackman pulled a gun, which he fired twice. After freeing himself Blackman fled the scene.
James Michael Simpson had surgery on his hand. He has now been released. Kenneth Blackman who was already out on bond for a shooting in Perry County has been charged with Attempted Murder, Breaking and Entering a Vehicle, Possession of Burglary Tools, and 1st Degree Robbery. After a brief time in the hospital for minor wounds to the hand and leg, he was placed in the Bibb County Jails on $385,000 bond. The Woodstock Police Department would like to thank the Bibb County Sheriff’s Department for their help.
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