Coroner: Two dead, one wounded following Fort Mitchell shooting

Update: Jessica Word, Columbus Midtown Medical Center's public relations coordinator, said Thursday morning that the surviving gunshot wound victim is now in unsatisfactory condition.

Original Story: Two people are dead and a third person is injured early this morning following a Fort Mitchell shooting, and the deaths have been ruled a double homicide, said Russell County Coroner Arthur Sumbry Jr.

Bionka L. Harmon, 26, and Leroy Harmon, 77, were pronounced dead of gunshot wounds 4 a.m. Tuesday at their home at 88 Bradley Road, Sumbry said. The surviving victim, who was a childhood friend, was shot in the head or possibly forehead. He is in critical condition after undergoing surgery this morning at Columbus Midtown Medical Center.

Travon Harmon, 19, is in custody and will be charged with capital murder, according to Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor.

Travon confessed to being the shooter after he admitted there was an argument with the surviving victim, Taylor said. It happened around 12:50 a.m.

The sheriff said Leroy, who was Travon's grandfather, tried to confront Travon during the argument that occurred in the back of the house. That's when Travon shot him in the head and later shot his sister Bionka in the head, Taylor said.

Travon's grandmother was present during the shooting and told officials her grandson shot all three victims, he said.

"It's a tremendous tragedy," he added.

A sheriff's deputy said Travon would go from emotional to "argumentative" or "verbally combative" while speaking with officials. Travon has an extensive criminal history, Taylor said. He was a suspect in a 2015 homicide, but the sheriff didn't specify which one.

Officials believe Travon called 911 and reported the homicides, Taylor said. A deputy was about four minutes away and responded to the scene, where he found Bionka and Leroy in the living room.

"As we were coming up, (Travon) was coming out the door," Taylor said. "We believe that he was potentially going to leave the scene. We got there fast enough that he stayed and did not give us any trouble."

Officials believe the .38 caliber handgun used in the shooting belonged to the surviving victim. The weapon has been sent to a forensics lab for testing.

The bodies of the deceased will be sent off for an autopsy in Montgomery, Ala.

Stay with the Ledger for updates.

— Sarah is a crime and safety reporter at The Ledger-Enquirer. You can contact her on Twitter at @SarahR_92.

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 8:56 AM with the headline "Coroner: Two dead, one wounded following Fort Mitchell shooting ."