Jury Convicts Man in Murder Trial Other’S Hands
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Victim in killing unknown Skeleton found with shotgun wounds PAGE 6A The Wilson Times Online Daily • Printed Tuesdays and Fridays | MORE THAN A NEWSPAPER — A COMMUNITY INSTITUTION SINCE 1896 | wilsontimes.com | Tuesday, June 15, 2021 | $1 Jury convicts man in murder trial other’s hands. Moments later, known as Players Choice, an Gaskins’ mother and sisters “That was my idea to hold Crumbley guilty tears streamed down their faces electronic sweepstakes business. said they felt like he was with hands,” she said. “She lost her as the verdicts were read aloud Superior Court Judge Lamont them throughout the trial, which only son.” in Arsenio Friday in Wilson County Supe- Wiggins sentenced Crumbley was emotional for the four “I loved my brother,” Fitzger- rior Court. to life in prison without parole. women. ald said through tears. A jury found 27-year-old Mi- Crumbley was also found guilty Gaskins’ sisters, Kristie and She said her brother’s death Gaskins’ killing quail Q. Crumbley guilty of first- of possession of a firearm by a Attandra Gaskins and Kissina was unexpected and she is still degree murder in the killing of felon. Fitzgerald, said they knew they reeling from the loss. By Olivia Neeley 32-year-old Arsenio K. Gaskins, “We’ve been praying every had to stay strong for their “I’m still dealing with it, and I [email protected] | 252-265-7879 who was gunned down near the day,” Gaskins’ mother, Dawn, mother. probably will the rest of my life,” 1500 block of Cargill Avenue on said outside the courthouse “She lost her only son,” Kristie Fitzgerald said. Dawn Gaskins and her three Oct. 5, 2019. The confrontation Friday afternoon. “God is good. Gaskins said, adding that she Attandra Gaskins said she daughters bowed their heads, that led to the shooting began Justice was most definitely and her sisters wanted to show closed their eyes and held each in the parking lot of what was served.” a united front. See CONVICTION, Page 2A WILSON COUNTY SCHOOLS 662 seniors receive diplomas Hunt High School guidance counselor Nancy Boykin, shown with her back to the camera at center, helps line up the school’s graduates. Boykin has assisted seniors on their big day since her graduation as a member of Hunt’s first class in 1979. Above right, Beddingfield High School graduates Malik Dingle, left, and Tyesha Pittman pose for a selfie before commencement Saturday. Janelle Clevinger | Special to the Times and Drew C. Wilson | Times By Drew C. Wilson Despite spending most of the and Janelle Clevinger year in a remote learning format, [email protected] | students were finally able to return 252-265-7818 to schools in March, and as restric- tions on social distancing eased and Wilson County Schools’ three more people were vaccinated, the traditional high schools gave possibility of more standard com- diplomas to 662 seniors at three mencement exercises increased. simultaneous commencement All three schools had original- exercises Saturday. ly scheduled outdoor events, but Class of 2021 graduates were Fike and Hunt returned inside, able to walk across a stage to while Beddingfield held its cer- collect their diplomas. emony on the football field. Indoor ceremonies at Fike and Hunt high schools saw students 248 DIPLOMAS GIVEN AT FIKE and administrators in face masks, but otherwise the ceremonies In a ceremony that mixed im- were similar to those held in years not affected by a pandemic. See GRADUATES, Page 4A EXPANDED COVERAGE Scan this QR code with your smartphone or mobile device to browse an online photo gallery from Saturday’s graduation ceremonies. Fike High School graduate Katherine Albright, left, poses with her family as mother Natalie Albright snaps a selfie at Saturday’s commencement ceremony. Drew C. Wilson | Times Bill includes $10.4M for Wilson infrastructure, transit By Brie Handgraaf Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-Wilson. in the $547 billion surface projects that the congressman corridor revitalization plan, [email protected] | “Communities across America transportation reauthoriza- could forward to the commit- which includes 10 years worth 252-265-7821 have been neglected far too long tion bill dubbed the Invest in tee,” said Rodger Lentz, Wilson of investments in east Wilson. and in need of funding for proj- America Act. Butterfield noted chief planning and develop- An $8.4 million allocation Wilson has received prelimi- ects that will bring about eco- $19,026,200 was set aside for ment officer. “The planning and through the Invest in America nary approval for $10.4 million nomic revitalization, especially five of the eight projects he sub- homework we had done ahead Act would give the city a head in federal funding to improve here in North Carolina.” mitted within North Carolina’s of time made the job easier to start on implementing that plan Pender Street and Black Creek The Committee on Transpor- 1st Congressional District, in- advance these projects, which by replacing the underground Road as well as expand Ride. tation and Infrastructure on cluding $10.4 million for Wilson. resonated with the committee.” utilities and surface infrastruc- “Aging infrastructure is in dire Thursday announced projects “We’re thrilled. We think we Last fall, the Wilson City need of improvement,” said U.S. across the country included put together a set of competitive Council approved the U.S. 301 See BILL, Page 4A Weathercast With Albert Thomas Jr. Preview of TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY the week posted Tuesdays. Preview of the weekend Thunderstorms Mostly sunny Sunny posted Saturdays. wilsontimes.com HI 86 LO 65 HI 84 LO 62 HI 81 LO 59 2A THE WILSON TIMES | wilsontimes.com Tuesday, June 15, 2021 ENGAGEMENT Conviction: Weeklong trial emotional for families Gravely-Massey continued from page 1A As Dawn Gaskins and Barnes, causing him to fall Barbara and Bentley her three daughters stood to the ground, according to Massey of Wilson an- misses her brother every outside the courthouse prosecutors and state wit- nounce the engagement day and she believes jus- underneath the beam- ness testimony. of their daughter, Gray- tice was served. ing sun, they said they After Gaskins punched son Colette Massey, to “It was time,” she said. felt Gaskins’ spirit. They him, Barnes returned to Edmund Keen Gravely III, noted that it was supposed Crumbley’s car and placed both of Raleigh. ‘HE’S AT PEACE’ to rain all day. the gun on the floorboard. The bride is the grand- “I think he’s at peace, at Gaskins went inside the daughter of Betty Ander- Gaskins’ family mem- rest,” she said. sweepstakes business son of Jackson, Carolyn bers said they miss their and told people about the Arsenio Gaskins, shown here Massey of Emerald Isle loved one each day. THE PROSECUTION confrontation. Several pa- in a family picture, was shot and the late William “He’s my only son,” Gas- trons and employees came and killed on Oct. 5, 2019. Massey Jr. of Emerald Isle kins’ mother said. “He’s In the early morning outside to see what was Contributed photo and the late Colette and the baby of the family.” hours of Oct. 5, 2019, Gas- going on. Sam Joyner of Goldsboro. She said the family kins was in the Players Witnesses said Gaskins surveillance video didn’t Parents of the groom misses Gaskins’ smile, his Choice parking lot speak- and Crumbley exchanged show was seven seconds are Ashlin and Edmund and the late Janice and laugh and his jokes. ing to a woman and then more words. Crumbley re- off-screen when the shoot- Keen Gravely Jr. of Rocky Edmund Gravely of “He was just a fun per- to Crumbley’s sister, who trieved the gun and even- ing occurred. After the Mount. He is the grand- Rocky Mount. son to be around,” she was in her vehicle. Crum- tually followed and then gunfire, Crumbley can be son of Peggy and Tom A Sept. 4 wedding is be- said. “He loved cracking bley and Jeremy Barnes chased Gaskins through seen getting into the car Looney of Rocky Mount ing planned in Raleigh. jokes. Everybody knew pulled into the parking lot the parking lot and shot Barnes was driving. him. He would help any- where Gaskins stood. At and killed him, according “The most important body he could. He was just some point, the men ex- to court testimony. part we can’t see is off the a good guy.” changed words. Gaskins didn’t have a screen,” Sallenger said. She said her son didn’t Barnes retrieved a gun weapon. Witnesses also Crumbley claimed believe in carrying weap- from the vehicle and placed testified that when Gas- that when he turned the ons, and if he was around it in his waistband. Barnes kins saw that Crumbley corner, Gaskins turned people who were toting approached Gaskins, and had a gun, he fled in fear around and said, “I got guns, he immediately got Gaskins backed up. At one of his life. you now.” away from them. point, Gaskins punched “Antonio Gaskins was Crumbley said Gaskins’ in a race for his life and cellphone struck him in the he lost,” Assistant District head and claimed the gun Attorney Joel Stadiem told went off during a struggle jurors during closing argu- after Gaskins tried to grab ments Friday morning. the gun from him. Police recovered seven “He’s the one (who) pro- .40-caliber shell casings. voked this entire event,” Gaskins was shot in the Sallenger said of Gaskins. back one time, and he He said Crumbley never died at the scene. had “murder in his heart.” Stadiem told jurors that The entire encounter, chasing a man and shoot- including the shooting, ing him in the back was occurred in less than four of the most “cowardly” minutes.