WAYCROSS, Ga. – The 41-year-old man accused of shooting two co-workers who were giving him a ride home -- killing a man and locking a woman with gunshot wounds in the truck of a car abandoned in woods -- is charged with murder and aggravated assault.
Before deputies, Waycross police and Georgia State Patrol troopers located the car with a man dead in the passenger seat and woman critically injured in the truck late Monday night, Waycross police arrested Leon Pugh at his home.
"He shot me," Sandra Williams told the Ware County 911 operator when she managed to made a call from the trunk. A few seconds later, the call ends.
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While the 54-year-old woman said she had no idea where she was, Waycross police along with the Ware County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Highway Patrol began searching for the vehicle.
Police said Williams eventually escaped from the trunk, and though shot multiple times, was able to make it out of the woods to get help. Williams was stabilized and taken by air ambulance to UF Health Jacksonville with life-threatening injuries. Williams was last listed in critical but stable condition.
She couldn't give the exact location of the car, but just after midnight a Waycross police supervisor found it off Darling Avenue in a heavily wooded area by a canal.
The second victim, identified as Timothy Williams (pictured), was found inside the cab of the car with what appeared to be a single gunshot wound. Coroner Atha Lucas confirmed his death. The body was sent to the state crime lab for forensic examination.
AUDIO: Gunshot victim makes 911 call from trunk of car
Police said Pugh worked with the victims at a Waycross restaurant and was being given a ride home when he shot them.
Investigators have yet to establish a motive.
That leaves Tim Williams' sister with no answers for his children.
"It's kind of hard to digest," Latadra Parker said. "He leaves three kids. He's a loving brother, wonderful son, and for what? That's my question. Why?"
Police said Sandra Williams was badly injured, but is unbelievably strong.
"The female victim's will to live and tenacity to survive is not only what saved her life but made it possible to find the second victim and to arrest a suspect," Chief Tony Tanner said. "If she wouldn't have fought to live and get out of that trunk, we would have had two deceased victims."
Tim Williams' family describes Sandra Williams as a "nice, nice woman" who routinely gave co-workers rides.
"I'm praying for the young lady and her family, that she gets through this," Parker said.