On Tuesday at approximately 6:50 pm, a 911 call was received in reference to a gunshot wound at Northview Garden Apartments in Bassett located at 755 Stultz Rd. When Henry County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived on scene, there were a number of people in the parking area. These people were comprised of family, friends, and others who lived there.
Due to the shocking actions that had just resulted in a homicide, emotions and tensions were high for this relatively large crowd. As officers were unraveling the incident, the family and others were speaking with deputies despite being completely overwhelmed by what had just happened. Some media outlets were on scene, although most were some distance away.
In working this incident which was going to last for several hours, officers were speaking with people, identifying witnesses, and taking these witnesses offsite for statements. During all of this, unknowingly to deputies, an assault and larceny occurred to one of the media outlets that we became aware of later.
After working and completing the initial actions, which includes working the crime scene and apprehending the suspect of the murder, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office initiated contact with the victim of the assault and larceny to investigate this incident.
This led to deputies watching a media video and then go through body camera video to put this incident together. One media outlet was videoing the crowd for some time. During this time, it can even be heard that the crowd is displeased with the proximity the video is coming from and that the family doesn’t want to be filmed.
Eventually, one person slaps the phone out of their hand and it can be seen on video flying overhead of several people. The phone lands some distance away. Due to the low light conditions this incident was undetectable and unnoticeable to the vast majority of people there.
One of the investigators, who is working on this homicide, is seen walking through the crowd and sees a woman reaching for a phone laying on the ground. Thinking she is reaching for what is likely her phone, or one that may have been dropped, he picks it up and hands it to her. After the investigation determined the phone was likely thrown in the dumpster. The victim was told, “he can get it out of the dumpster”.
Investigators have identified three people in reference to this. As they were identifying and making contact with the people involved, all three were cooperative and respectful, taking responsibility for their actions. In their statement they all said they were upset from the situation and were upset about being filmed after asking for it to stop.
So far investigators have obtained two warrants in this situation. One person has been charged with assault and another person with assault and battery. Investigators are still looking into the third individual as to their involvement of the larceny of the phone.