By Jenny Arnold
jennifer.arnold@shj.com
Published: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 10:45 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 10:45 a.m.
Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said Tuesday no charges will be filed in connection with a fatal double shooting at a west-side apartment complex on Saturday.
The fatal shooting occurred at 12:10 a.m. Saturday at Lee’s Crossing Apartments, off Powell Mill Road. Douglas Williams, 29, later told deputies that he shot the two men after catching them trying to break into his apartment.
Michael Deangelo Gentry-Hill Jr., 22, of 102 Richborough Drive, died at the scene of the incident. Darren Tyree “Ty” Hill, 18, of 112 Shelby St., died at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center later Saturday morning, according to the Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office.
Wright said two shots were fired during the incident, and that Gentry-Hill and Hill
had single gunshot wounds to the front part of their heads.
“Douglas Williams is the victim here,” Wright said during a news conference Tuesday. “He has a right to defend himself.”
Williams has a criminal record, according to the State Law Enforcement Division. According to his criminal history,
he was convicted of forgery in 2008 and is prohibited by the federal gun control act of 1968 from possessing or acquiring a gun or ammunition, according to S.C. Law Enforcement Division records.
“Just because someone has made a mistake doesn’t mean they can’t protect themselves,” Wright said. “Me personally, I would have been telling someone to call 911. That should be the first option. I’d have preferred he had called 911.”
According to investigators,
Williams and his girlfriend drove up to their apartment and saw the two men trying to break in through a window. Wright said Williams got out of the car with his girlfriend’s gun and confronted Gentry-Hill and Hill from a distance of 5 to 10 feet. Gentry-Hill and Hill took cover behind some air-conditioning units.
Wright said
one of the two men trying to break in had a gun. The sheriff would not comment on whether the gun Williams used was registered to his girlfriend, or give any information about Williams’ gun or the one found with Hill and Gentry-Hill. He said the gun Hill and Gentry-Hill had was “near” them when deputies began their investigation Saturday morning.
“We’re doing investigations on both of those pistols,” Wright said.
Both men were wearing dark clothing and one had on a ski mask, according to an incident report.
No one was inside the apartment at the time of the shootings. Deputies searched the apartment and found pry marks on the window, Wright said. Williams did not indicate to investigators that he knew Hill or Gentry-Hill, but told deputies that Saturday was the third time someone tried to break into the apartment, Wright said.
Hill and Gentry-Hill have criminal records as well, according to SLED.
Hill was convicted under the Youthful Offender Act in September of second-degree burglary and sentenced to six years in prison. That sentence was suspended upon service of 111 days in jail and three years of probation, according to SLED, and he also was prohibited from possessing or acquiring a gun or ammunition.
Gentry-Hill’s arrest record dates back to 2006 and includes mostly minor charges that were later dismissed. He was convicted of a minor purchasing or in possession of alcohol in July 2011. He was not prohibited from having a gun or ammunition, according to SLED.
Wright said he and investigators met with 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office officials on Monday to discuss the case and determine whether charges would be filed against Williams.
“We were very methodical about this,” Wright said, in consulting with the solicitor’s office before coming to a decision on charges. During the news conference, Wright cited the State vs. John Brayboy, a law that he says supports a convicted felon using a gun in self-defense.
Solicitor Barry Barnette said under the state’s Castle Doctrine, a person has a right to protect their property, automobile or people on their property with the use of deadly force.
According to the law, a person is “presumed to have a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily injury to himself or another person” when a suspect is “in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering, or has unlawfully and forcibly entered a dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle, or if he removes or is attempting to remove another person against his will from the dwelling ... or occupied vehicle.”
Barnette also cited the State vs. John Brayboy, a Spartanburg case involving a convicted felon who used a gun in self-defense.
“You can act lawfully if you’re acting in self-defense,” Barnette said. “They (Gentry-Hill and Hill) could have shot Williams — they had a gun. If it had been my window, I’d have called 911. But he (Williams) didn’t have to do that under the law.”
Wright said Tuesday he continues to stand by his comments about residents obtaining concealed weapons permits and arming themselves for protection against crime.
“I’ve never encouraged anybody to shoot any person,” Wright said. “You only use a weapon as a last resort. I hope it sends a message to the bad guys: You better start leaving us be. The bad guys better start paying attention.”
Attempts to reach Williams were unsuccessful.
Sheriff: No charges to be sought in fatal double shootingBy Jenny Arnold
Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright gives further details on a fatal double shooting from Saturday night. Here, Wright indicates that two...Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright gives further details on a fatal double shooting from Saturday night. Here, Wright indicates that two...
GoUpstate.comApril 10, 2012 10:45 AM
<p>Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said Tuesday no charges will be filed in connection with a fatal double shooting at a west-side apartment complex on Saturday.</p><p>The fatal shooting occurred at 12:10 a.m. Saturday at Lee's Crossing Apartments, off Powell Mill Road. Douglas Williams, 29, later told deputies that he shot the two men after catching them trying to break into his apartment.</p><p>Michael Deangelo Gentry-Hill Jr., 22, of 102 Richborough Drive, died at the scene of the incident. Darren Tyree “Ty” Hill, 18, of 112 Shelby St., died at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center later Saturday morning, according to the Spartanburg County Coroner's Office.</p><p>Wright said two shots were fired during the incident, and that Gentry-Hill and Hill had single gunshot wounds to the front part of their heads.</p><p>“Douglas Williams is the victim here,” Wright said during a news conference Tuesday. “He has a right to defend himself.”</p><p>Williams has a criminal record, according to the State Law Enforcement Division. According to his criminal history, he was convicted of forgery in 2008 and is prohibited by the federal gun control act of 1968 from possessing or acquiring a gun or ammunition, according to S.C. Law Enforcement Division records.</p><p>“Just because someone has made a mistake doesn't mean they can't protect themselves,” Wright said. “Me personally, I would have been telling someone to call 911. That should be the first option. I'd have preferred he had called 911.”</p><p>According to investigators, Williams and his girlfriend drove up to their apartment and saw the two men trying to break in through a window. Wright said Williams got out of the car with his girlfriend's gun and confronted Gentry-Hill and Hill from a distance of 5 to 10 feet. Gentry-Hill and Hill took cover behind some air-conditioning units.</p><p>Wright said one of the two men trying to break in had a gun. The sheriff would not comment on whether the gun Williams used was registered to his girlfriend, or give any information about Williams' gun or the one found with Hill and Gentry-Hill. He said the gun Hill and Gentry-Hill had was “near” them when deputies began their investigation Saturday morning.</p><p>“We're doing investigations on both of those pistols,” Wright said.</p><p>Both men were wearing dark clothing and one had on a ski mask, according to an incident report.</p><p>No one was inside the apartment at the time of the shootings. Deputies searched the apartment and found pry marks on the window, Wright said. Williams did not indicate to investigators that he knew Hill or Gentry-Hill, but told deputies that Saturday was the third time someone tried to break into the apartment, Wright said.</p><p>Hill and Gentry-Hill have criminal records as well, according to SLED.</p><p>Hill was convicted under the Youthful Offender Act in September of second-degree burglary and sentenced to six years in prison. That sentence was suspended upon service of 111 days in jail and three years of probation, according to SLED, and he also was prohibited from possessing or acquiring a gun or ammunition.</p><p>Gentry-Hill's arrest record dates back to 2006 and includes mostly minor charges that were later dismissed. He was convicted of a minor purchasing or in possession of alcohol in July 2011. He was not prohibited from having a gun or ammunition, according to SLED.</p><p>Wright said he and investigators met with 7th Circuit Solicitor's Office officials on Monday to discuss the case and determine whether charges would be filed against Williams.</p><p>“We were very methodical about this,” Wright said, in consulting with the solicitor's office before coming to a decision on charges. During the news conference, Wright cited the State vs. John Brayboy, a law that he says supports a convicted felon using a gun in self-defense.</p><p>Solicitor Barry Barnette said under the state's Castle Doctrine, a person has a right to protect their property, automobile or people on their property with the use of deadly force.</p><p>According to the law, a person is “presumed to have a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily injury to himself or another person” when a suspect is “in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering, or has unlawfully and forcibly entered a dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle, or if he removes or is attempting to remove another person against his will from the dwelling ... or occupied vehicle.”</p><p>Barnette also cited the State vs. John Brayboy, a Spartanburg case involving a convicted felon who used a gun in self-defense. </p><p>“You can act lawfully if you're acting in self-defense,” Barnette said. “They (Gentry-Hill and Hill) could have shot Williams — they had a gun. If it had been my window, I'd have called 911. But he (Williams) didn't have to do that under the law.”</p><p>Wright said Tuesday he continues to stand by his comments about residents obtaining concealed weapons permits and arming themselves for protection against crime.</p><p>“I've never encouraged anybody to shoot any person,” Wright said. “You only use a weapon as a last resort. I hope it sends a message to the bad guys: You better start leaving us be. The bad guys better start paying attention.”
Page 3 of 3
Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said Tuesday no charges will be filed in connection with a fatal double shooting at a west-side apartment complex on Saturday.
The fatal shooting occurred at 12:10 a.m. Saturday at Lee’s Crossing Apartments, off Powell Mill Road. Douglas Williams, 29, later told deputies that he shot the two men after catching them trying to break into his apartment.
Michael Deangelo Gentry-Hill Jr., 22, of 102 Richborough Drive, died at the scene of the incident. Darren Tyree “Ty” Hill, 18, of 112 Shelby St., died at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center later Saturday morning, according to the Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office.
Wright said two shots were fired during the incident, and that Gentry-Hill and Hill had single gunshot wounds to the front part of their heads.
“Douglas Williams is the victim here,” Wright said during a news conference Tuesday. “He has a right to defend himself.”
Williams has a criminal record, according to the State Law Enforcement Division. According to his criminal history, he was convicted of forgery in 2008 and is prohibited by the federal gun control act of 1968 from possessing or acquiring a gun or ammunition, according to S.C. Law Enforcement Division records.
“Just because someone has made a mistake doesn’t mean they can’t protect themselves,” Wright said. “Me personally, I would have been telling someone to call 911. That should be the first option. I’d have preferred he had called 911.”
According to investigators, Williams and his girlfriend drove up to their apartment and saw the two men trying to break in through a window. Wright said Williams got out of the car with his girlfriend’s gun and confronted Gentry-Hill and Hill from a distance of 5 to 10 feet. Gentry-Hill and Hill took cover behind some air-conditioning units.
Wright said one of the two men trying to break in had a gun. The sheriff would not comment on whether the gun Williams used was registered to his girlfriend, or give any information about Williams’ gun or the one found with Hill and Gentry-Hill. He said the gun Hill and Gentry-Hill had was “near” them when deputies began their investigation Saturday morning.
“We’re doing investigations on both of those pistols,” Wright said.
Both men were wearing dark clothing and one had on a ski mask, according to an incident report.
No one was inside the apartment at the time of the shootings. Deputies searched the apartment and found pry marks on the window, Wright said. Williams did not indicate to investigators that he knew Hill or Gentry-Hill, but told deputies that Saturday was the third time someone tried to break into the apartment, Wright said.
Hill and Gentry-Hill have criminal records as well, according to SLED.
Hill was convicted under the Youthful Offender Act in September of second-degree burglary and sentenced to six years in prison. That sentence was suspended upon service of 111 days in jail and three years of probation, according to SLED, and he also was prohibited from possessing or acquiring a gun or ammunition.
Gentry-Hill’s arrest record dates back to 2006 and includes mostly minor charges that were later dismissed. He was convicted of a minor purchasing or in possession of alcohol in July 2011. He was not prohibited from having a gun or ammunition, according to SLED.
Wright said he and investigators met with 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office officials on Monday to discuss the case and determine whether charges would be filed against Williams.
“We were very methodical about this,” Wright said, in consulting with the solicitor’s office before coming to a decision on charges. During the news conference, Wright cited the State vs. John Brayboy, a law that he says supports a convicted felon using a gun in self-defense.
Solicitor Barry Barnette said under the state’s Castle Doctrine, a person has a right to protect their property, automobile or people on their property with the use of deadly force.
According to the law, a person is “presumed to have a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily injury to himself or another person” when a suspect is “in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering, or has unlawfully and forcibly entered a dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle, or if he removes or is attempting to remove another person against his will from the dwelling ... or occupied vehicle.”
Barnette also cited the State vs. John Brayboy, a Spartanburg case involving a convicted felon who used a gun in self-defense.
“You can act lawfully if you’re acting in self-defense,” Barnette said. “They (Gentry-Hill and Hill) could have shot Williams — they had a gun. If it had been my window, I’d have called 911. But he (Williams) didn’t have to do that under the law.”
Wright said Tuesday he continues to stand by his comments about residents obtaining concealed weapons permits and arming themselves for protection against crime.
“I’ve never encouraged anybody to shoot any person,” Wright said. “You only use a weapon as a last resort. I hope it sends a message to the bad guys: You better start leaving us be. The bad guys better start paying attention.”
Attempts to reach Williams were unsuccessful.