| ‘Bad blood’ led to pistol death of bystander |
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By BOB HIGH The group of young males who killed one man and wounded two others outside a Lake Waccamaw store used a 2001 Ford Taurus stolen from a Whiteville used car lot to travel to Lake Waccamaw on the night of Sept. 21. They attended at least a portion of East Columbus High School’s football game against Whiteville before leaving near the end and driving the stolen car to Sam’s Pit Stop convenience store on the western edge of the town’s limits. Lake Waccamaw Police Chief Scott Hyatt said the young males from the Whiteville-Town of Brunswick area – usually those living in the Stanley Circle area – are members of a gang who consider a Chadbourn-based gang their biggest rival. “The reason for the shooting is not clear at this point. It’s thought to be ‘bad blood’ between the gangs centered in Stanley Circle and Chadbourn, and dates back to a shooting in early 2007,” Hyatt said. More arrests coming Connail Reaves, 17 at the time of the lake incident and who marked his 18th birthday on Oct. 6, was charged Thursday morning with first-degree murder in the death of bystander Darnell Antonio Frink, 22, of Chadbourn. Reaves is a resident of Stanley Circle. “We’re going to make more arrests, but at this point, we’re still gathering evidence on other people we believe were involved in the shooting,” the police chief pointed out. “Connail was one of as many as five people in the Taurus. It’s not clear yet. It could be a minimum of four.” Hyatt believes from evidence he and other officers have gathered that three weapons – all pistols – were used on Sept. 21. 12 shots fired He had a .25-caliber handgun in his pants, and a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol was discovered under his vehicle seat while being arrested for possession of cocaine and marijuana by local officers. “We believe those two pistols were used at the lake, and a third person used a pistol of unknown description. There were at least 12 shots fired from what we’ve been able to put together,” Hyatt continued. One witness told Hyatt the Taurus moved slowly through the parking lot, and the right side windows were down. The witness said “all of a sudden arms came out with weapons and they started ‘clapping’ at us.” Hyatt said he discovered “clapping” is street talk for shooting. Following the shooting, the Taurus exited the store’s parking area by traveling to the exit in front of the Lake Waccamaw post office and traveled to Whiteville. Rag in gas tank Hyatt said the Taurus, trailed by a second car, drove to Brunswick and turned onto Prison Camp Road. A half mile west of N.C. 130, the driver who Hyatt said was Reaves, turned onto a farm road and drove behind a field to the edge of a wooded area that connects to the back of Stanley Circle. The suspects abandoned the Taurus, placed a rag in the gas tank and ignited it. A few seconds later, as the second car filled with the suspects was moving away, the Taurus exploded into flames and was scorched. Hyatt said the group of “shooters” drove to the Shooters pool hall along South Madison Street here, went to the second-floor amusement center and played pool. “They were seen there by many people.” Reaves’ freedom after the shooting was short. Within 25 hours he was in custody of Whiteville police and taken to the county jail where he has been held under large bonds on a variety of charges prior to his arrest for the murder and wounding of two others. Faulty taillight Reaves was a passenger in a 1992 Acura that was leaving the pool hall area at 11:31 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, when Whiteville police officers Edward Memory and Doug Edwards noticed a faulty taillight when the car reached the intersection of Pecan and Lee streets. Edwards moved to the Acura from the passenger side and noticed a firearm partially visible on the floorboard under the passenger’s seat. Santonio Thurman Jenrette, also known as Y.T. or Young Thurman, a 20-year-old from Whiteville, was driving. Jenrette and Reaves were removed from the car, and both were handcuffed. They were placed in the police car. Police discovered another pistol in Reaves’ pants, and found a third under the same passenger seat. Police also found cocaine and marijuana. Jenrette had 49.8 grams cocaine and Reaves had 2.1 grams, plus Reaves also had 17.3 grams of marijuana. While the officers searched for more contraband, Jenrette managed to get out of the police car and fled on foot into the nearby woods, his hands cuffed behind his back. He’s still at large. Friend in jail Reaves was taken to jail and joined a friend there – one local police have charged with helping Reaves steal the 2001 Taurus from J.R. Sellers Auto Sales located along U.S. 701 South Bypass here. “They broke in to get keys, and while in there found the .25-caliber pistol, and they also stole some cigars,” Hyatt pointed out. The lake chief said he has a “digital video of the shooting” at the lake store, plus a video of a gas drive-off incident at Go Gas’ station here 90 minutes before the shooting when a 2001 Taurus was the suspect vehicle. Justin “Gator” Wright, 17, of Peacock Road, Whiteville, is charged with helping Reaves steal the Taurus. “Justin would probably have been with Reaves that Friday night, but he was in jail,” Hyatt reported. Suspicious book bag Wright was arrested at Whiteville High School during the school day the same Friday, Sept. 21, for possession of a firearm on school property and possession of burglary tools. His book bag was discovered out of place in a classroom, and when inspected to find the owner, a pistol, two hammers, screwdriver, tape, gloves, flashlight, wire cutters and vehicle fuses were discovered. Three days later, local police charged Wright and Reaves with the break-in of J.R. Sellers Auto Sales along U.S. 701 Bypass South, where they got keys to a 2001 Ford Taurus and stole the car, plus vehicle fuses and cigars. “It’s been a group effort to get all this done, and I want to thank the Whiteville and Chadbourn police and the sheriff’s detectives,” Hyatt said. “Thanks to the Whiteville police, they made it easy to find the principal player in the shooting because he was in jail. “But, we need more information, and we know there are people out there who know exactly what happened, and why. Anyone can reach me at 646-3558 or 840-7772, or call 9-1-1.” Hyatt continued. One witness told Hyatt the Taurus moved slowly through the parking lot, and the right side windows were down. The witness said “all of a sudden arms came out with weapons and they started ‘clapping’ at us.” Hyatt said he discovered “clapping” is street talk for shooting. Following the shooting, the Taurus exited the store’s parking area by traveling to the exit in front of the Lake Waccamaw post office and traveled to Whiteville. Rag in gas tank Hyatt said the Taurus, trailed by a second car, drove to Brunswick and turned onto Prison Camp Road. A half mile west of N.C. 130, the driver who Hyatt said was Reaves, turned onto a farm road and drove behind a field to the edge of a wooded area that connects to the back of Stanley Circle. The suspects abandoned the Taurus, placed a rag in the gas tank and ignited it. A few seconds later, as the second car filled by the suspects was moving away, the Taurus exploded into flames and was scorched. Hyatt said the group of “shooters” drove to the Shooters pool hall along South Madison Street here, went to the second-floor amusement center and played pool. “They were seen there by many people.” Reaves’ freedom after the shooting was short. Within 25 hours he was in custody of Whiteville police and taken to the county jail where he has been held under large bonds on a variety of charges prior to his arrest for the murder and wounding of two others. Faulty taillight Reaves was a passenger in a 1992 Acura that was leaving the pool hall area at 11:31 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, when Whiteville police officers Edward Memory and Doug Edwards noticed a faulty taillight when the car reached the intersection of Pecan and Lee streets. Edwards moved to the Acura from the passenger side and noticed a firearm partially visible on the floorboard under the passenger’s seat. Santonio Thurman Jenrette, also known as Y.T. or Young Thurman, a 20-year-old from Whiteville, was driving. Jenrette and Reaves were removed from the car, and both were handcuffed. They were placed in the police car. Police discovered another pistol in Reaves’ pants, and found a third under the same passenger seat. Police also found cocaine and marijuana. Jenrette had 49.8 grams of the drug and Reaves 2.1 grams, plus Reaves had 17.3 grams of marijuana. While the officers searched for more contraband, Jenrette managed to get out of the police car and fled on foot into the nearby woods, his hands cuffed behind his back. He’s still at large. Friend in jail Reaves was taken to jail and joined a friend there – one local police have charged with helping Reaves steal the 2001 Taurus from J.R. Sellers Auto Sales located along U.S. 701 South Bypass here. “They broke in to get keys, and while in there found the .25-caliber pistol, and they also stole some cigars,” Hyatt pointed out. The lake chief said he has a “digital video of the shooting” at the lake store, plus a video of a gas drive-off incident at Go Gas’ station here 90 minutes before the shooting when a 2001 Taurus was the suspect vehicle. Justin “Gator” Wright, 17, of Peacock Road, Whiteville, is charged with helping Reaves steal the Taurus. “Justin would probably have been with Reaves that Friday night, but he was in jail,” Hyatt reported. Suspicious book bag Wright was arrested at Whiteville High School during the school day the same Friday, Sept. 21, for possession of a firearm on school property and possession of burglary tools. His book bag was discovered out of place in a classroom, and when inspected to find the owner a pistol, two hammers, screwdriver, tape, gloves, flashlight, wire cutters and vehicle fuses were discovered. Three days later, local police charged Wright and Reaves with stealing the break-in of the auto firm and theft of the Taurus. “It’s been a group effort to get all this done, and I want to thank the Whiteville and Chadbourn police and the sheriff’s detectives,” Hyatt said. “Thanks to the Whiteville police they made it easy to find the principal player in the shooting because he was in jail.
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