A third press release from a third different agency now allows us to piece together the events of Monday afternoon that took multiple agencies on a manhunt north from Grayville to Lawrence County. The Wabash County Sheriff released the first information saying they’d caught 27 year old Ashton Harper of Mt. Vernon, IL following a nearly 5 hour manhunt. Illinois State Police later in the day released a few additional details saying a shooting had occurred, but not identifying the individual who had been injured. White County Sheriff Randy Graves released a presser late Wednesday that now helps us tie together how the entire situation unfolded. Graves says his office received a 911 call on Monday around 2:40pm in reference to a male in his 30s or 40s walking along 2400 North bleeding and yelling for help. That man turned out to be Ronald Jolley who told the caller he’d been shot. The caller helped Jolley into his vehicle, found Jolley’s fiancé nearby and helped him into her vehicle, and the pair headed towards Carmi where they met law enforcement and White County Ambulance personnel on the way. Jolley had been shot in the shoulder and was bleeding profusely, but refused to disclose any information to officers with regards to who was responsible or where exactly the shooting took place. From there, Illinois State Police were called in and the manhunt for Harper was on. Deputies were eventually able to determine the shooting occurred at or near where 2400 North intersects with 1987 North, just south of Grayville. Jolley was subsequently taken to an Evansville hospital where the story should end. An Evansville social media page that fancies itself a news outlet would later report that Jolley was seen walking about 400 NW Fourth Street near Raben Tire in a medical gown and with no shoes. Though medically stable, Jolley allegedly left Deaconess against medical advice eventually getting a ride from an Evansville resident to Jolley’s friends place. White County Sheriff Randy Graves is trying to reassure local residents saying there is not threat to the public that someone is out shooting at random people.
