The South Boston Police Department is searching for two individuals
wanted for questioning following a vehicle shooting early Wednesday
morning, according to Capt. Jim Binner.
"Earlier in the evening, we received calls that a vehicle
had been shot in the Westside area," Binner said. "At
this point, we don't know if the vehicle was occupied at the time
of the shooting."
At approximately 12:45 a.m., Binner said that more shots were
heard in the area of Wilborn Avenue.
"The description of the vehicle we received matched the description
of the earlier suspect vehicle," the captain said.
Binner said that Officer Fletcher Daniels was in the area of the
Fas-Mart on Wilborn Avenue and he heard the shots.
"Daniels pulled behind the vehicle, a white 1998 Nissan four-door,"
Binner said.
He added that Daniels never turned on his lights and siren while
following the suspect vehicle.
"As he is following them, the suspect vehicle attempted to
flee the officer," said Binner.
During the ensuing chase, two high-caliber handguns were recovered
by police after being thrown from the vehicle, according to investigator
B.K. Lovelace.
"One of the guns went through the rear window of a pickup
truck parked on Crescent Drive," Lovelace said. "We
recovered it stuck in the windshield."
Binner reported that the Nissan turned onto Route 501 north and
then turned onto Beechmont Avenue.
"When they made the turn onto Beechmont, the car crashed
and three suspects bailed out of the vehicle," the captain
reported.
He said that two of the suspects ran toward the hospital while
the third ran down Tanglewylde Drive.
"He (the third suspect) went into the wooded area between
Tanglewylde and Beechmont," Binner said.
One man, 29-year-old Ryall Majors, was taken into custody after
being spotted inside Halifax Regional Hospital.
"Our dispatcher called the hospital to alert them to be on
the lookout for two black males wearing white t-shirts,"
Binner said. "He (Majors) was inside the hospital. When a
security guard tried to contain him, he ran out the front door
and we took him into custody."
Majors was charged with being drunk in public, Binner said. He
added that Majors was wanted on two outstanding warrants, including
a warrant for assault and battery.
The two other unidentified suspects were still at large at press
time.
"We set up a perimeter around the wooded area and called
in the Virginia State Police helicopter to assist us in the search,"
Binner said. "After the helicopter search, we searched the
area on foot but could not locate the suspect."
The captain said police had some leads they were investigating
yesterday and the investigation was continuing.
"We expect to arrest additional suspects shortly," Lovelace
said.
The South Boston Police Department was assisted in the search
by members of the Virginia State Police aviation unit and the
Halifax County Sheriff's Office.
Binner asks that anyone with information about the incident call
Crimestoppers at 575-TIPS.
A $700,000 Community Development Block Grant awarded to the
county this week will kick off revitalization of the Town of Halifax's
core business district.
"We will seek a balance of jobs, homes, services and amenities
by removing visual and physical blight that have occurred from
years of economic erosion in our area," said Carl Espy, Halifax
Planning Commission chairman.
Engineering and design work will continue as town officials and
businessmen prepare for the anticipated Spring 2004 construction
date.
Improved sidewalks, and facade enhancement of the downtown storefronts
through a 50/50 cost-share will be the focus of the CDBG funding.
The county is also applying for a TEA-21 grant for approximately
$385,000 in June, according to Espy.
If awarded, relocation of utility lines would be the focus of
those funds.
"I want to commend David Martin (chairman of the Board of
Supervisors) for initiating the idea that the county be proactive
with the town on its revitalization," County Administrator
Joe Morgan said yesterday.
"He (Martin) was the initiative of the county's involvement
and the cooperation of the planning commission staff, the town
staff, Town Manager Greene and the town's Planning Commission
Chairman Carl Espy with Assistant County Administrator Jerry Lovelace
made a good team to get this project moving.
"It's an interesting combination. The county is actually
the grant applicant. We had more experience with grants,"
he explained, naming numerous industrial and infrastructure grant
applications.
"This grant will enable the town and county to continue the
improvements to the entire downtown area and compliment the recently
completed War Memorial project as well as serve as a springboard
for future activities that will include utility relocations
and other improvement efforts," observed Lovelace.
"This is one of Gail Moody's projects," he added.
"I am very encouraged and excited about this project,"
Moody, Southside Planning District Commission senior planner,
said yesterday.
"This project is special because it's a joint effort between
the county and the town. I think it is a very positive thing
for Halifax.
"It's such an enthusiastic group working. Without their
support, this project would never have happened," Moody
added yesterday.
"We are very pleased the county got the grant," said
Halifax Town Manager Robert Greene. "The Town is looking
forward to working with the county on the joint Streetscape project."
"The aim of the Halifax Revitalization Project is to provide
economic opportunity and quality of life for those who work or
visit here and those who call the town home," said Espy.
"National surveys indicate that the 'small town' is the strong
preference as the ideal place to live, and this model is how we
can rebuild for the future," added the town's planning commission
chairman..
"Just as with the Halifax County War Memorial, many people
have worked hard and will continue to do so as we move into the
first construction phase," he added.
LandMark Design Group and Southside Planning District Commission
are major players in the town's revitalization.
Gov. Mark Warner announced more than $10.7 million in 2003 CDBG
grant offers to 18 localities throughout Virginia Tuesday.
The grants benefit low-income residents and will support community
and economic development projects such as medical and community
centers, downtown revitalization and job creation.
"These funds address quality of life issues for Virginians,
as well as helping improve the infrastructure that attracts economic
development and opportunity," Warner said in a press release
earlier this week.
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development administers
the CDBG program for the state.
A Halifax County Circuit Court jury deliberated for more than
three hours Wednesday before convicting Antonio Christopher Logan
of second degree murder in the shooting death of Robert Franklin
Bray last July.
The jury additionally convicted Logan of the use of a firearm
to commit the murder, recommending Logan serve a total of 35 years
in prison for the crimes.
Logan, a 20-year-old Halifax resident, had originally been charged
with capital murder in the death of Bray last July 20 during an
attempted cocaine deal on Easley Street in South
Boston that turned deadly.
The capital murder charge was reduced to first degree murder during
the trial's second day, when presiding Judge Leslie M. Osborn
ruled that prosecution evidence was insufficient to determine
the drug exchanged during the deal was real or imititation cocaine.
Judge Osborn also granted a defense motion to strike evidence
against Logan charging him with intent to distribute cocaine,
with that charge dismissed during Wednesday's proceedings.
A key issue at the trial was whether Bray's shooting was premeditated,
or whether Logan shot Bray in the heat of the moment after the
victim provoked Logan by not paying him.
Logan took the stand in his own defense Wednesday, telling the
jury and defense attorney Joseph Teefey he was sorry for what
he did.
"This lifestyle wasn't worth it," Logan said, adding
he had thought about both Bray and the time in prison he expected
to serve.
According to Logan's testimony, he had stayed occasionally on
Easley Street with his girlfriend, and was there the night of
Bray's murder.
Logan admitted on the stand he had three or four shots of moonshine
that night and smoked three or four marijuana cigarettes.
"I was 'high,'" Logan testified, saying he came up
with an idea to sell ground up sheetrock in an effort to "crank"
unsuspecting buyers out of money for more marijuana.
Around 2 a.m., while standing with friends and other dealers on
Easley Street, Logan testified he saw a car approaching, with
driver Bray and a passenger, Mark Womack.
Womack approached the group and tried to purchase cocaine, Logan
said.
"I knew his face but not his name," Logan continued
on the stand.
"We thought he was the police," testified Logan, adding
Womack then turned and went back to the car, before Bray, whom
Logan said he didn't recognize, approached.
"He asked if I had anything, and I said I got some,"
Logan testified.
Logan testified Bray took what Logan said was a baggie with ground
up sheetrock and turned away toward the car without paying.
Prosecution testimony indicated Bray had been sold what appeared
to be imitation cocaine at least twice earlier that night, and
had no money for this transaction.
Logan, who is black, testified he said "where's my money,"
and Bray, who was white, responded with a racial epithet.
"I was angry and I felt like I had to do something,"
Logan testified, telling Teefey, and the jury, people at the scene
challenged his manhood, calling him a "punk," among
other things.
Logan testified he walked up behind Bray and shot him, before
running away.
Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker said Bray's shooting
"was a classic case of first degree murder."
One prosecution witness had testified earlier that she was outside
her home on Easley Street at the time of the shooting, and overheard
a man she identified as Logan and another man arguing.
"I've known him (Logan) for two or three years and I know
his voice...I don't know what they were arguing about," she
testified.
"A white man was arguing with Chris (Logan) and the white
man went back to his car.
"I heard three shots, pow, then pow-pow," she testified.
"I saw Chris in the street, a man getting in the car and
a white guy in the passenger seat, and the car went past me,"
she told the jury.
In his cross examination, Greenbacker questioned Logan on what
he thought were inconsistencies in his testimony, and his reason
for shooting Bray.
"Why did you sell to one person if you thought the other
person was a policeman," Greenbacker asked the defendant.
"You gave Bray something that was worthless and you asked
for money?"
"Why did you shoot him," Greenbacker asked Bray.
"I was drunk, I was high, someone was yelling at me to do
something...I was mad," Logan responded.
"You shot him three times because you wanted to kill him?"
Greenbacker asked Logan. "Did you mean to kill him?"
"No," responded Logan to both questions.
In his closing statement, Greenbacker said there was no evidence
indicating Bray was doing anything but walking away from the defendant.
"Does anyone dispute the man was shot," Greenbacker
asked the jury.
"There's no provocation for this," Greenbacker said.
"Words alone do not justify a killing, and there's not justification
to pull out a gun and shoot someone three times."
Defense attorney Robert Morrison said the case was at most a second
degree murder case.
Morrison didn't question not the honesty of prosecution witnesses,
but specifcally their recall of the events that night, considering
the location and time of the crime.
"You have two individuals on a collision course that night
for one reason, cocaine," Morrison told the jury in the defense's
closing argument.
"Bray has a problem with cocaine, and got mad because he
was ripped off twice earlier.
Citing a toxicologist's testimony indicating the effects of cocaine
on an individual, Morrison added Bray was "not thinking normally,"
taking his relative's car "because it was known in the area."
"What changed it to a deadly conflict," Morrison told
the jury, was not the defendant, but Bray.
"Bray changed it because he was highly agitated and made
a slanderous remark.
"He provoked the incident...with a 20-year-old kid on the
street in front of his friends," Morrison continued.
"The situation got out of control and he reacted," said
Morrison, in disputing the basis for premeditated murder, a necessary
ingredient for a first degree murder conviction.
"Do you think he made up his mind to kill or reacted?"
said Morrison.
"Don't you think it's reasonable he lost it? It was heat
of passion based on his reaction.
"Reasonable provocation caused him to snap."
Judge Osborn affirmed the jury verdict and remanded Logan to custody
to await sentencing in the August court term.
Judge Joel Cunningham returned three judgements
against the founder and president of the closed Wellspring Academy
Wednesday in Halifax County General District Court.
Former counselor Lisa Grant, previously blamed by Gluhareff for
setting off a chain reaction that resulted in the closure of the
school for adolescent boys, was awarded $2,700 in back pay and
vacation pay.
She was scheduled to receive the pay on April 18, just two days
prior to the school's sudden closure on April 20.
In granting the judgement, Judge Cunningham added nine percent
interest until the full amount is paid to Grant.
Cunningham also granted a judgement to Vance Agee, who claimed
his business, a NAPA dealership, was owed $1048.83 by Gluhareff.
Agee told the court that Gluhareff had purchased parts and maintenance
services for the school's vehicles from his business.
He also introduced into evidence documents signed by Gluhareff
that stipulated a two-percent monthly interest charge on any unpaid
balances.
According to court documents, that translates to 24 percent interest
charges on the defaulted bill.
The final judgement against the embattled school leader resulted
from a suit brought against Gluhareff by U.S. Cox Oil & Gas
Company.
Jim Hunt, manager of the South Boston petroleum dealer, presented
evidence that Gluhareff owed the company $5,892.54 for purchases
over the last 12 months.
Cunningham granted that motion with a nine-percent interest rate
until the amount is paid in full.
Gluhareff did not attend yesterday's court proceedings.
In a letter dated May 14, Gluhareff's Halifax County attorney,
W.W. "Ted" Bennett, advised parents who have been seeking
tuition reimbursements from the school that Gluhareff would be
filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection.
Contacted in his North Carolina office yesterday, Gluhareff said
his bankruptcy attorney, Joe Garrett of Danville, would be making
any statements about any judgements against him.
"From this point on, Joe Garrett will be speaking for me,"
he said.
Garrett did not return calls to his office by the Gazette-Virginian
yesterday.
Juanita Newbill Allen, 84, of Scottsburg,
died May 28 at Twin Oaks Convalescent Home.
Mrs. Allen was born in Halifax County on August 10, 1918, the
daughter of Herbert Pryor Newbill and Etta Hester Snead Newbill,
and was married to James LaFayette Allen Sr. She was a member
of Scottsburg Baptist Church.
Survivors of Mrs. Allen include one daughter and son-in-law, Lynda
A. Haywood and husband, Robert, of Richmond; one son and daughter-in-law,
James L. Allen Jr. and wife, Vicky, of Scottsburg; six sisters,
Geneva N. Throckmorton of Scottsburg, Florence N. Thompkins of
Danville, Harriett N. McGregor of Midlothian, Hilda N. McMullin
and Emily N. Claytor, both of Richmond, and Dorothy N. Watkins
of Ashland; three grandchildren, Jenna Allen of Scottsburg, Robin
H. Larkin and husband, Sean, of Mechanicsville, and J. Michael
Compton of Farmville; one great-grandchild, Patrick James Larkin
of Mechanicsville.
Mrs. Allen was preceded in death by her husband; and three sisters,
Ilene N. Carroll, Ruth N. Nichols and Florine N. Woody.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, May 31, at 11 a.m. at
Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Eure officiating.
Burial will take place in Oakland Cemetery at Scottsburg.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening
from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home of her son,
James L. Allen, 9170 J.D. Hagood Highway, scottsburg.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Scottsburg
Volunteer Fire Department.
Frank Joseph Crews Jr., 76, of 2150 Cole's
Ferry Road, Nathalie, died May 27, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Crews was born in Halifax County on March 28, 1927, the son
of Frank Joseph Crews and Cora Lacks Crews and was married to
Pauline Snead Noblin Crews. He was a member of Ellis Creek Baptist
Church, and an Army Veteran of WWII.
Survivors include his wife; one son, James Franklin Crews of Gladys;
one daughter, Patricia Ann Crews of Winston Salem, NC; three stepsons,
Jimmy Snead of South Boston, Ronnie Noblin of Clover and Wayne
Noblin of Nathalie; one stepdaughter, Patricia Noblin of Clover;
one granddaughter, Sylvia C. Seamons of South Boston; four step-grandchildren,
Brandy Stephens of Mebane, NC, Stephanie Bowen of Virgilina, Brian
Noblin of Pelham, NC, and Tiffany Noblin of Nathalie; two sisters,
Odell C. Skelton of Nathalie and Nellie Buntin of Richmond; and
one great-granddaughter, Colby Blair Seamons of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mr. Crews will be held today, May 30, at
2 p.m. at Ellis Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. W.D. Mills
officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Nancy West Francis, 72, of South Boston,
formerly of Richmond, died May 27, at Halifax Regional H spital.
Mrs. Francis was born in Pittsylvania County on January 15, 1931,
a daughter of the late Henry O. and Alice Grissom West. She was
a retired registered nurse and a member of Bethlehem Lutheran
Church in Richmond.
Survivors include three daughters, Donna L. Francis and her husband,
Gary Noble, of Atco, NJ, Susan P. Francis of Richmond, and Caryl
F. Moore and her husband, Timothy W., of Halifax; four grandchildren,
Thomas L., Chrystal R., Tracey A., and Chelsea V. Moore, all of
Halifax; two brothers, Donavan S. West and his wife, Mary, of
Spartanburg, SC, and Richard West and his wife, May, of Danville.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Rebecca
W. Moss.
Friends and family are asked to gather at the home of Tim and
Caryl Moore, 1038 Golf Course Road, Halifax, on Saturday, May
30, at 11 a.m. for a memorial service.
Thomas Nolan Martin Sr., 51, of 1131 Crystal
Hill Road, Crystal Hill, died May 26 at his home.
Mr. Martin was born in Halifax County on July 31, 1951, the son
of Nolan Luther Martin and Evelyn Martin Beadles. He was a member
of First Baptist Church of Millstone.
Survivors include one son, Thomas Nolan Martin Jr. of Crystal
Hill; two stepsons, Robert Burton of Reedsville, NC and Allen
D. Burton of Crystal Hill; three sisters, Judy Martin Nunn of
Greensboro, NC, Patricia Martin Conner of South Boston, and Evelyn
Martin Albertson of Cluster Springs; two brothers, Jerry Lovelace
Martin and Tony Ray Martin, both of South Boston; five step-grandchildren,
Allen Dale Burton Jr. of Scottsburg, Douglas E. Burton of Richmond,
Justin Lee Burton, Ashley Dean Burton and Rachel Burton, all of
Cluster Springs. He was preceded in death by one stepson, Douglas
E. Burton.
Graveside services for Mr. Martin were held May 29, at First Baptist
Church Republican grove Cemetery at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Danny
Brizendine officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the American
Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, 23060.
Lucy Bowman Williams, 46, of Richmond died
May 27 at Chippenham Medical center.
Mrs. Williams was born in Halifax County on August 14, 1956, the
daughter of the late James Curtis Bowman Sr. and Judy Hudson Bowman,
and was married to the late Bruce Williams Sr. She was a member
of First Pentecostal Church in Richmond, and was a library media
specialist.
Survivors include one son, Bruce Williams Jr. of Richmond; three
sisters, Earlene V. Bowman and Mattie E. Bowman, both of Richmond,
and Patricia Russell of Clover; four brothers, James C. Bowman
Jr. of Drakes Branch, Melvin L. Bowman of Richmond, Marvin L.
Bowman and Jerry Sprattley, both of Clover.
Funeral services for Mrs. Williams will be held tomorrow, May
31, at 2 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church with the Rev. Ronald
Claiborne officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry
Russell Sr., 3156 Rodgers Chapel Road, Clover.