News (Media Awareness Project) - US MS: Drugs, Money Likely Motive in Slayings, JPD Detective |
| Title: | US MS: Drugs, Money Likely Motive in Slayings, JPD Detective |
| Published On: | 2002-01-08 |
| Source: | Clarion-Ledger, The (MS) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-31 08:12:18 |
DRUGS, MONEY LIKELY MOTIVE IN SLAYINGS, JPD DETECTIVE TESTIFIES
A police detective testified Monday that he thinks an attempt to steal
drugs or money ended in a Dec. 18 double homicide.
Christopher "Smilie" Walker, 19, charged with murder in the shootings of
Beth Anderson, 37, and Samuel L. Berry, 34, both of Jackson, went to a
house in the 2100 block of Mobile Avenue with Berry to rob those at the
house, Jackson Police Detective Will Gardner speculated during a
preliminary hearing Monday.
Two other individuals, Parish Turner, 29, and Otha Cromwell, 28, were
wounded. Walker is charged with aggravated assault in the shooting of Cromwell.
County Judge Bobby DeLaughter sent Walker's case to a Hinds County grand
jury for possible indictment. Bail was denied.
"I spoke to Cromwell, who was shot twice in the leg, and he said Smilie
shot him," Gardner testified. "He stated Smilie and another subject tried
to take dope away from Beth (Anderson)."
Gardner said police recovered three or four ounces of crack cocaine from
beneath Anderson, on the floor where she fell after being shot.
Anderson was killed by a 12-gauge shotgun blast. Berry, who Gardner said
was part of the robbery attempt, was shot in the hip. It's unclear why
Walker allegedly shot Berry, Gardner said.
Gardner said, according to witness accounts, Berry shot Turner twice while
Berry was exiting the house. After struggling with Turner, Berry ran into
the middle of Mobile Avenue where he fell. Turner ran up the street.
Walker ran out of the house, shooting a shotgun wildly in the air, jumped
on top of a vehicle and the car sped south on Mobile Avenue, Gardner said.
Walker turned himself in to police a day after the shooting.
On cross-examination by Walker's attorney, Hinds County Public Defender Tom
Fortner, Gardner said the only person to say he actually saw Walker shoot
Anderson and Berry is Cromwell, a convicted drug dealer.
Turner, Gardner said, reported seeing Walker with a shotgun. Both Anderson
and Berry were shot with a shotgun blast, Gardner said.
"What did my client say happened?" Fortner asked Gardner. "He didn't admit
shooting anyone. He said he had a 22-caliber weapon."
A police detective testified Monday that he thinks an attempt to steal
drugs or money ended in a Dec. 18 double homicide.
Christopher "Smilie" Walker, 19, charged with murder in the shootings of
Beth Anderson, 37, and Samuel L. Berry, 34, both of Jackson, went to a
house in the 2100 block of Mobile Avenue with Berry to rob those at the
house, Jackson Police Detective Will Gardner speculated during a
preliminary hearing Monday.
Two other individuals, Parish Turner, 29, and Otha Cromwell, 28, were
wounded. Walker is charged with aggravated assault in the shooting of Cromwell.
County Judge Bobby DeLaughter sent Walker's case to a Hinds County grand
jury for possible indictment. Bail was denied.
"I spoke to Cromwell, who was shot twice in the leg, and he said Smilie
shot him," Gardner testified. "He stated Smilie and another subject tried
to take dope away from Beth (Anderson)."
Gardner said police recovered three or four ounces of crack cocaine from
beneath Anderson, on the floor where she fell after being shot.
Anderson was killed by a 12-gauge shotgun blast. Berry, who Gardner said
was part of the robbery attempt, was shot in the hip. It's unclear why
Walker allegedly shot Berry, Gardner said.
Gardner said, according to witness accounts, Berry shot Turner twice while
Berry was exiting the house. After struggling with Turner, Berry ran into
the middle of Mobile Avenue where he fell. Turner ran up the street.
Walker ran out of the house, shooting a shotgun wildly in the air, jumped
on top of a vehicle and the car sped south on Mobile Avenue, Gardner said.
Walker turned himself in to police a day after the shooting.
On cross-examination by Walker's attorney, Hinds County Public Defender Tom
Fortner, Gardner said the only person to say he actually saw Walker shoot
Anderson and Berry is Cromwell, a convicted drug dealer.
Turner, Gardner said, reported seeing Walker with a shotgun. Both Anderson
and Berry were shot with a shotgun blast, Gardner said.
"What did my client say happened?" Fortner asked Gardner. "He didn't admit
shooting anyone. He said he had a 22-caliber weapon."
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