Motive Unknown for Drive By Shooting on Melvin Drive
Luckily no one was hurt in the shooting which occurred around 3:00 am, but police are looking for the motive behind the drive by shooting which targeted a Greenville family. From Fox Carolina:
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Greenville County deputies are investigating a drive-by shooting in which several shots were fired early Tuesday.
The shooting happened at a home on Melvin Drive at about 3 a.m.
Deputies said that family members were sitting inside the home when they heard gunshots outside.
Investigators said that one bullet hit the home and at least two struck two of the three cars sitting outside.
No one was injured.
Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call Greenville County Crime Stoppers at 23-CRIME.
Maybe it was random? Video report here.
Teen Shot in Parking Lot of North Pleasantburg Bi-Lo
Fox Carolina is reporting that a 19-year-old man coming out of a convenience store was shot by two African American males who then made a getaway in a gold Jeep Grand Cherokee. So far no word on the motive:
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Greenville police are investigating a shooting that happened outside a grocery store late Monday night.
The shooting happened outside the Bi-Lo at 2111 N. Pleasantburg Drive at about 11:15 p.m.
Police said that officers found the a 19-year-old man suffering from a single gunshot wound in the parking lot of a convenience store near the grocery store.
Investigators said that they are searching for two men in connection with the shooting. Each are described as black and between 18- and 20- years old. One is about 210 pounds and the other about 180 pounds.
Needless to say, you should call authorities if you have any information. Call Greenville County Crime Stoppers at 23-CRIME if you know who these criminals are.
WSPA has raw video and confirm this was a robbery. The victim was apparently shot in his car.
Entering/exiting your vehicle or home is often the most likely time for robbers to try to strong arm you. This is because you’re usually distracted and off-guard, so before entering your vehicle, visually inspect the area to see if something looks wrong. Don’t be afraid to go back inside wherever you came from. And once inside a vehicle, don’t linger. Put it in drive and leave immediately.
You’re a sitting duck in a car as this shooting proves.
Arson Charges Against Genesis Press Owners Dismissed
But Lawrence Kudeviz and Christopher Petrone aren’t out of the woods yet. The judge is dismissing charges now so that the testimony of the insurance investigators can be put on record during the civil proceedings initiated by the suspected arsonists. If that evidence is compelling enough the duo may be back in court.
From Fox Carolina:
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The charges against the co-owners of Genesis Press in connection with a fire at the plant last year were dismissed with leave to restore, Solicitor Bob Ariail said on Monday.
Christopher Petrone and Lawrence Kudeviz were each charged with second-degree arson and making a false insurance claim to obtain benefits in September in connection with the March 29, 2008 fire.
[...]
Ariail said in a statement Monday that the charges against Petrone and Kudeviz were dismissed so that the civil litigation could move forward and allow all parties to testify under oath. He said that the testimony from the civil hearings will be reviewed and the charges could be pursued again based on that information.
And of course charges against James Guzzy, Kudeviz’s brother-in-law, are still pending. He’s facing 2nd degree arson and 2nd degree burglary for the same fire.
Cab Company Owner Alleges Greenville City Manager Unfairly Shutting Him Out of Market
City Manager James Bourey denied a Columbus based taxi business entrance into the Greenville market claiming that the “down economy” in Greenville made it impossible for Greenville to “support” a second cab company within the city. Bourey refused to give business owner Otman Benouis the needed Certificate of Necessity for him to operate his company in Greenville, in essence preempting the free market and deciding what the people of Greenville would or would not be willing to support.
Benouis says the decision is driven by Bourey protecting local Greenville company Yellow Cab. From WYFF:
Benouis said he hoped to expand his American VIP Cab to Greenville and already had a lease on an office on Congaree Road and approval from the zoning board to establish his business.
He said when he sought a certificate of necessity from the city and the state, his request was denied by city manager Jim Bourey, who replied in a letter that, “due to the current economy, I do not feel that the city should support an additional taxi cab company at this time.”
Benouis said his company has plenty of customers, including those who call for a cab from Greenville. He said he couldn’t understand why Greenville would reject his business.
“If you do it legally, you have a right to have a business wherever you want,” he said.
According to Benouis, the decision on whether Greenville’s economy can handle his business should be made by the customers and not the city. He accused a local taxi cab business owner of pressuring the city to turn down his request.
Benouis says Bourey is being “pressured” which seems like a nice way of saying Bourey is in the pocket of Yellow Cab owner John Bacot. Bacot denies “pressuring” Bourey but has admitted to sending a letter that implied expanding the service in the area would flood the streets with unsafe drivers.
In reality it would flood Greenville’s coffers with tax money, and bring more money into local businesses as new drivers purchase gas, food and Benouis pays extravagant office rent. In other words it would help the “down” economy in Greenville to have a new business move in. Any city manager worth his salt would know that but Bourey, who has years of experience and two Masters, doesn’t seem to grasp basic capitalism. Or does he?
I think the people of Greenville deserve a an explanation as to why Bourey thinks a company willing to rent office space, buy gas, and support our local economy shouldn’t be allowed to do business here.
Body Found in Anderson County May be Missing Taylors Man
Homer Staton, 72, and Jo Ann Staton, 68 were last seen at Old Country Buffet on Wade Hampton Blvd on Friday. On Saturday a car found parked near a pond was traced to the couple who had by then disappeared. Homer Stanton’s hearing aid was found in the car. A police search of the couple’s home found no evidence of where the couple was.
On Sunday a man walking his dog found a body a few miles from where the Stanton’s car was found. Police are not yet sure if the body is Homer Stanton but are investigating the possibility.
From WYFF:
ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. — The Anderson County Sheriff’s office has begun a homicide investigation on a man’s body found near Asaville School Road.
The body was found a few miles from the car of a missing couple from Taylors.
Sheriff John Skipper said the car belongs to 72-year-old Homer and 68-year-old Jo Ann Staton of Taylors. Deputies found it near a pond off Belton Highway.
[...]
The Anderson County Coroner’s Office could not confirm the identity of the person found dead, but said he was probably between 60 and 70 years old.
Greenville Online also has a report.
UPDATE: The body has been identified as Homer Staton and his death has been ruled a homicide. From Fox Carolina:
ANDERSON, S.C. — Anderson County deputies said that the death of a Taylors man whose body was found on Sunday night is a homicide.
The Anderson County Coroner’s Office said that the body of 72-year-old Homer Staton was found along Asaville School Road at about 6:15 p.m. Sunday. Investigators said that Staton died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Jo Ann Staton remains missing. Anyone with information call Anderson County Crime Stoppers at 231-STOP.