Pearson began his robbing and killing spree in Jacksonville, Florida the day before. He killed two people and wounded seven others before fleeing the city with three women as hostages. Pearson then fled northward along Interstate 75 into Georgia, robbing service stations and truck stops and leaving seven people wounded and one dead. Along the route his three hostages escaped as he engaged in several gun battles and was wounded in the cheek and ear. Pearson shot himself in the head when he was closed in by the police.