By Sara Belsole
PHENIX CITY, AL - Phenix City Police issue a warrant in the city's first homicide of the year.
Walter Robert Lee Patterson III is wanted for capital murder in connection to the shooting death of 52-year-old Terry Simmons.
"He was really sweet. Terry would give you the shirt off his back, he never met a stranger, everybody liked him. I don't know anybody that would say anything bad about him," Pam Sloane, Simmons' sister, says.
Simmons was pronounced dead early Sunday morning.
Police say he was shot and killed outside the Car Mart on Highway 280 around 2 a.m. Another man was seriously injured.
Simmons family says Richard Prince was from out of town and Simmons wanted to take him out to see Phenix City. They say they spent the night here at the Red Barn playing pool.
"He lived here all his life so we pretty much know a lot of people here and it was just like a normal weekend night for him," Sloane says.
61-year-old Prince was found shot next to Simmons and is in critical condition at the Medical Center.
Police say they reviewed the surveillance footage from outside the Car Mart which they say helped identify Patterson.
"So we can get the photo out and people can help look. People in the community would probably be calling in," Sloane says.
Simmons' body has been sent to Montgomery for autopsy.
His family says they are still working on funeral arrangements and setting up a fund in his name at CB&T Banks in Columbus.
"If you needed something he was there for you, he never told you no, he was always helping," brother Gary Simmons says.
If you have any information about Patterson's whereabouts you are asked to call Phenix City Police at 334-448-2800.
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