UPDATE: Root Beer Stand murder suspect being held in jail on no bond

A Williamsburg tow truck operator, accused of shooting and killing a Woodbine man at the Root Beer Stand in Corbin late Friday, remains in jail with no bond as of Monday.

Whitley County Court and jail officials say Larry Wilson, 55, owner of Wilson’s Towing in Williamsburg, won’t have the opportunity to post a bond until at least Tuesday morning, when he is scheduled for a video arraignment hearing in Whitley District Court.

According to authorities, Wilson used a 9mm pistol to shot and fatally wound 38-year-old Todd Carter after the two allegedly had some sort of altercation in the parking lot of the Root Beer Stand about 10:00 p.m. Friday evening. Police say Wilson has said nothing about the incident. According to sources, he is being represented by Williamsburg attorney Jane Butcher.

"He hasn’t told us anything," said Corbin Police Sgt. Bill Rose, the lead investigator in the case. "All he did was request a lawyer. That’s it."

Police were on the scene within minutes after a 911 call was made reporting the incident. They were able to detain Wilson, who was still sitting in his tow truck when they arrived. He was taken into custody without a struggle and the gun used in the shooting, a 9mm pistol, was recovered from his truck.

Police say Wilson fired a single shot at Carter through the open window of his tow truck, striking him the armpit area. Initially, authorities said Carter assaulted Wilson immediately prior to the shooting, but are now investigating that part of the case with a little more scrutiny. Wilson had bleeding wound below his left eye visible when he was taken to the police department for questioning. Rose said Wilson did not struggle with police and was in no way injured by officers during his arrest.

A round from Wilson’s gun also alleged slammed into a vehicle parked nearby. Wilson faces an additional charge of wanton endangerment, police say, because a small child was seated in the vehicle near where the bullet hit. Authorities have yet to find the bullet, even after a second attempt to locate it Saturday night. The Root Beer Stand was closed all day Saturday.

Rose said Wilson had a permit to carry a concealed deadly weapon and added the gun used in the shooting did not appear to be stolen or illegally obtained.

For customers of the Root Beer Stand, the incident was traumatic.

"I was ordering my food and I heard a gunshot," said Patty Shelton, a customer at the Root Beer Stand at the time of the shooting. "At first I thought it was some kids playing with firecrackers or something, then I seen him [Carter] coming back and he fell on the car. Then people just told me to run."

Shelton said she panicked, got out of her car and sought safety in the restroom.

According to Root Beer Stand owner Willie Champlin, Carter approached Wilson’s tow truck from the opposite side of the drive-in restaurant. Soon after, chaos erupted.

"I’ve got four girls working out there and they all came in screaming ‘Call 911! Call 911! They were panicked," Champlin said. "They were shouting so loud I couldn’t find out why they wanted me to call 911. Then finally somebody told me Todd had got shot."

Champlin said Carter, whose wife is an employee at the Root Beer Stand, was still conscious when police and EMS personnel arrived. Some customers tried to stop the bleeding with napkins and towels until he could be transported to the hospital.

"In 40 years we’ve never had anything like this," Champlin said. "We’ve had a fist fight or two out in the parking lot before, but that’s about it … nothing this serious."

As for Wilson, witnesses say he never made any attempt to elude authorities.

"He never ran. He never even got out of his truck as far as I know," Champlin said. "The police came and got him. They put him on the ground and put him in the car and that was it."

A large pool of blood was clearly visible near where Carter collapsed to the ground. A small pool of blood could be seen near the driver’s side door of Wilson’s tow truck.

Rose said he interviewed about five people regarding the case Friday and plans to talk to many more in the coming days. He said he still does not yet know what kind of disagreement between the two men may have led to the shooting.

"I just don’t know a whole lot right now," Rose said. "Obviously, Carter had some kind of problem with the tow truck driver and he confronted him but that is about all I know."

Police strung crime scene tape around much of the perimeter of the Root Beer Stand shortly after the shooting. The restaurant was closed for the remainder of the evening. Police and Corbin Fire Department personnel were searching for shell casings and other forensic evidence after the shooting.

Authorities confirmed early Saturday morning that Carter passed away at Baptist Regional Medical Center. Whitley County Cororner Andy Croley has ordered an autopsy be performed.