A Coffee County man was shot eight times in the parking lot of Ward’s Grocery early Wednesday in an ongoing dispute over $200 worth of marijuana.

The incident took place around 5:45 a.m. at the Springhill community station on Highway 187, said Sheriff Russell Thomas.

“Both of the individuals live in Coffee County and for some reason they met at the store in Springhill,” said Lt. Sam Mallory of the Pike County Sheriff’s Department. “From what we gather, they had an ongoing feud because the victim owed the suspect some money for drugs …”

“Words were exchanged in the parking lot and then all of a sudden gunfire started.”

Mallory said the victim, whose identity was not released, was shot eight times with a .45 Glock handgun. “He was airlifted to Baptist Couth in Montgomery and was listed in guarded condition in the ICU Wednesday afternoon,” Mallory said.

William Joseph Sunday, 25, of 2250 County Road 205, was charged with attempted murder and was being held in the Pike County Jail. The gun believed to be used in the shooting was recovered.

“Sunday was interviewed and confessed to the shooting,” Thomas said.

“He said the shooting occurred because they had an ongoing feud for over two weeks because of a $200 debt,” adding that Sunday said he had “fronted” the victim marijuana and had not been paid.

“A search of Sunday’s residence in Coffee County turned up marijuana, guns, scales and other paraphernalia used for the distribution of marijuana,” Thomas said.

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the search.