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| Perry: No return to violent past in Sandy level |
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
By DEBBIE HALL AND GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writers
Last week’s shooting death of an 18-year-old in Sandy Level did not indicate a resurgence of violence in that area, Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry said Saturday.
“What happened there could have happened anywhere people stand on corners” late at night with drug activity occurring, Perry said.
Lewis Anthony “A.J.” Dillard Jr., 18, of Kings Mill Road, Ridgeway, was shot multiple times around 10:03 p.m. Thursday and pronounced dead in a gravel driveway just off the side of Axton Road in the Sandy Level area, the sheriff’s office stated in news releases.
Jerel Maceo Norman, 21, of 7230 Axton Road, was charged Friday with first-degree murder, armed robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in the incident, the release stated.
He was arrested at the Magistrate’s Office at 5:41 p.m. Friday without incident and is being held without bond, the release stated.
Perry said based on statements from witnesses, a man saw Dillard, “approached him, pulled a weapon out and started firing.”
The sheriff said investigators believe “ongoing problems between the two led to the aggressive confrontation.”
“From what we’ve learned through our investigation, we feel the confrontation stemmed from an earlier incident involving drugs,” he added Saturday. There was no indication the shooting was gang-related, he said.
Sandy Level, in southeastern Henry County, was associated with drug activity for many years. In 1993 the Concerned Citizens of Sandy Level organized in an attempt to gain control of the slaying, but three years later, Sandy Level was featured in U.S. News & World Report’s April 22, 1996, issue. It was portrayed as a rural area rife with drug and related crimes.
Fewer than three weeks after that article appeared, local, state and federal authorities pulled an early morning drug bust there, resulting in 10 arrests and related confiscations.
Police then stepped up patrols and the citizens’ group remained vigilant. In the years since then, officials have said the community has become safer and the blatant violence has subsided.
Perry said he does not think that violence is returning, despite Thursday’s homicide.
“It’s still a good community. They haven’t really had problems,” he said. “When people start standing out late at night, this type of problem can happen anywhere you have drug activity.
“... I’ve been to meetings (in Sandy Level). There are a lot of very caring people” in that community, Perry added.
In Thursday’s case, investigators still are looking for a newer model dark-colored Impala-type vehicle, as well as additional information in the incident.
“Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has knowledge of it” is urged to call police, Perry said.
Residents who know any of the individuals in the area at the time also are encouraged to call investigators, the sheriff said.
Dillard’s remains were taken to the state lab in Roanoke, where an autopsy was to be performed, police have said.
The Axton Volunteer Rescue Squad responded to the scene.
Dillard worked at T&J Trucking in Axton and attended St. John Baptist Church.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 638-8751 or Crime Stoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463).
The Crime Stoppers program offers reward money up to the amount of $1,000 for information related to crimes. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information provided determines the amount of reward paid for information.
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