VALDOSTA, Ga. – On Wednesday, December 18, Valdosta was on alert. There was reports of a shooting, and a high speed chase going on around the same time.

But one man, Tommy Willis, who has been a regular Barnes Drugs customer for years using the same route, was heading up Savannah Avenue towards Toombs Street, got shot in the torso with an unknown gunman right about noon. Sirens could be heard in the distance from GSP and Lowndes, but VPD had their hands full yellow-crime-taping the area where Charles Barnes, owner of the longtime revered Valdosta business, walked around shaking his head.

“We’ve never felt like we were in danger down here,” Barnes said as he peered across the street and over the yellow crime scene tape where a lone electric scooter sat facing the wall on the red two-story building which housed Barnes Drugs offices for accounting and general business from the second floor.

The man has since been identified as Tommy Willis, 67, of Valdosta, and he’s lucky he’s still alive. Shot twice, Valdosta Police Department officers are still investigating into the motive and identity of the shooter.

Willis was released two days after the shooting on Friday and has hope for a full recovery. His friends and those at Barnes Drugs who also considered him “family” are doing whatever they can to help.

This case is still under investigation, anyone with information is asked to call Valdosta Police.