Pitt County Gunfight ends in attempted murder charges

NOTE: Forget the possible "drug" angle. It is just as illegal to rob a drug dealer (if that's what these guys thought they were doing) in his own home as it is to rob a good citizen...

FACTS: The homeowner had been robbed at gunpoint. He ran out of his mobile home to check on the welfare of three young children who were in a vehicle outside his home. (Could this be possible "pursuit"?) He was fired upon by the robbers who were attempting to escape. The homeowner retrieved a gun from the vehicle where the children were and opened fire on the robbers. One of the robber's bullets went through the pants leg of the homeowner and struck the hip of his guest, who had also been robbed. Bullets also struck the vehicle where the children were hiding...

Who agrees with Judge Andrew Napolitano of "FREEDOM WATCH" whose attitude in the Zimmerman case was: "Charge the victim with murder and let the court sort it out!"?? Who here thinks the homeowner in this Pitt County case should be charged with attempted murder of the home invaders so this incident can be "fully examined by a judge and jury in a court of law" -- law enforcement investigation and physical evidence be damned???

TV judges can be idiots, too...

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Gunfight ends in attempted murder charges

By Kristin Zachary The Daily Reflector Thursday, April 12, 2012

Three men on Wednesday were charged with attempted murder and armed robbery after an apparent drug deal ended in a gunfight Tuesday near Winterville, officials said.

Travis Jermaine Pittman, 27, and O’Joshua Terrell Roberts and Demetrius Tyreese Hines, both 23, are charged with attempted first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and shooting into an occupied vehicle, Capt. Paula Dance of the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office said.

Roberts also was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

“It is believed at this time O’Joshua Roberts was the only one in possession of a gun and was the one that did the shooting,” Dance said.

At their first appearance Wednesday morning, the three men each were given a $2 million bond.

Sheriff Neil Elks said the men robbed two people at 1797 Manning Road off N.C. 43 about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Dwight Parker was moving out of the home with the help of a friend, Tyler Simpson, and had invited a person they knew to the residence, Dance said.

The man brought with him Pittman, Roberts and Hines — whom the robbery victims did not know — and the four entered the house, Elks said.

“It is the assumption they may have been there to sell or buy drugs,” Dance said.

The suspects learned Parker and Simpson had approximately $400 and robbed them of the money, Elks said.

The three men took wallets belonging to Parker and Simpson and tried to flee the scene in their vehicle, Dance said.

She said the suspects backed their car into the ditch and opened fire when Parker and Simpson exited the residence to check the well-being of three young children — ages 10, 7 and 2 — sitting inside a vehicle parked in the driveway.

Parker retrieved a gun from inside the vehicle and returned fire, Dance said.

Several shots were exchanged between Parker and the suspects in the front yard and driveway of the residence, Elks said.

A bullet traveled through Parker’s pant leg and hit Simpson in the hip area, Dance said.

The vehicle also was hit during the gunfight, but the children inside were unharmed, she said.

Upon hearing sirens, Pittman, Roberts and Hines fled the scene, Dance said. One of the men had a pre-existing injury and fled on crutches, she said.

A K-9 unit from the Greenville Police Department assisted in the search, and the men were found a half-mile from the residence, Dance said.

“They were found hiding in tall grass on a ditch bank,” Dance said. “They offered no resistance.”

Detectives also were able to locate drugs nearby as well as the gun used in the shooting, she said. Also recovered were the victims’ wallets.

Simpson was transported by Eastern Pines EMS to Vidant Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, she said. Parker was not injured.

A spokeswoman with the hospital on Wednesday afternoon said Simpson had been discharged.

Dance said she does not expect charges to be filed against the man who brought Pittman, Roberts and Hines to the residence.

She said detectives believe he had no prior knowledge the robbery would occur.

Parker also will not be charged with his part in the gunfight since he exited the residence with the intent to check on the children and used his weapon only after shots were fired by the suspects.

Pittman, Roberts and Hines all have prior criminal histories, according to records.

Pittman, of 2915 Tammie Trail, Greenville, served six years for a 2002 assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill charge in Pitt County. He was released in October 2008.

Roberts, of 319 Horseshoe Drive, Greenville, was convicted in 2006 of being an accessory after the fact of a 2005 first-degree murder in Pitt County.

He also had a robbery with a dangerous weapon charge that was consolidated for judgment. He was released in July 2010 but served time again from February to October 2011.

Hines, of 208 Talton Drive, Greenville, served nearly five years for a 2005 assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury charge in Pitt County. He was released in August 2010.

The three men are next scheduled to appear in court on April 26.