Our son Eddie's, best friend's father was murdered this past Saturday night. Below is some information about the story. They are a close-knit, hard-working, struggling family and obviously this has made everything much harder for them. Please pray for this family - that God will provide their every need and give them peace. Praise God that the two teens that did this have been arrested today!
You can help the family with donations into an account set up at South Carolina Federal Credit Union. Donations should be made to the Wilson C. James Memorial Fund.
From The Post and Courier:
Coroner identifies pizza delivery man killed Saturday night
By Nita Birmingham (Contact)
Monday, June 4, 2007
A pizza delivery man killed this weekend in Dorchester County was identified today as Wilson James, 54.
James lived in the Greenhurst subdivision and was trying to deliver a pizza at 10:20 p.m. Saturday on his way home, County Coroner Chirs Nisbet said. The delivery, called in to 108 Beatrice Lane in Greenhurst, turned out to be fake and was an attempted armed robbery, the Sheriff’s Office said.
James was shot in the arm, but the bullet passed into his chest and he died at the scene, Nisbet said.
The Sheriff’s Office said the residents of 108 Beatrice Lane were not involved in the robbery attempt and weren’t aware a delivery had been requested to their house.
Another article from the Post and Courier:
Two teens charged in killing of pizza delivery man
Staff Report
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Dorchester County Sheriff’s investigators arrested two teenagers today on charges of killing a 54-year-old pizza delivery man, a Sheriff’s Spokesman Michael D. Miller said.
Delronezy Washington, 18, and Deshawn A. Brown, 16, were arrested and charged with murder. Both teens live in the Greenhurst neighborhood off Miles Jamison Road where Wilson James was shot and killed.
Both teens will be charged as adults, and both will attend upcoming bond hearings.
Deputies don’t know how many people approached James at 10:20 p.m. Saturday as he got out of his car, but it appears he was not robbed. The next-door neighbors said they heard a gunshot and noticed a car with its headlights on in the driveway.
From the Summerville Journal Scene:
Just in: Two held in pizza driver’s death
By Julie R. Smith jsmith@journalscene.com
• Wednesday, June 6, 2007 4:15 PM EDT •
Two teenagers were charged Wednesday with the murder of a Navy veteran who worked three jobs to support his family.
Delronezy Washington, 18, and Deshawn A. Brown, 16, both of Greenhurst subdivision in Sumnmerville, are charged with attempted armed robbery and murder in the June 2 slaying of Wilson James, 54.
Brown, a juvenile, will be charged as an adult, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Mike Miller said.
James was shot at 10:25 p.m. as he attempted to deliver a pizza to 108 Beatrice Lane—whose occupants didn’t order the pizza and had nothing to do with the crime.
To James, it was the last delivery of the night before he went home to his family. He lived on nearby Nancy Lane.
To whoever ordered the pizza, it was a setup for robbery.
When James got out of his car and approached the house, at least one armed suspect tried to rob him. When he resisted, he was shot once.
The 9 mm bullet went through his arm into his chest, and struck his heart. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Washington remains jailed without bond pending a hearing before a circuit judge. Brown has been transferred to the state Department of Juvenile Justice facility in Columbia, S.C.. pending bond hearing.
The community was stunned by the murder of James, described as a devoted husband and father. A regular churchgoer, he also delivered newspapers and ran a vending service.
“He was a family man, and worked hard to help his family,” sheriff’s Major Mike Turner said.
Detectives quickly developed leads that resulted in the suspects’ arrest, Miller said.
A gun believed to be a murder weapon has been recovered and the investigation continues, Turner said.
