Friends and family of the four men suspected in the Dec. 26 killing of Dajuquon Poole and attempted murder of Tiran Farris showed up early to Lenoir County District Court Monday … and waited.
In fact, by the time William Deshawn Wilson went before the judge after noon, they numbered at least half of the people remaining in the courtroom. Wilson, 21 and accused of attempted murder, received the first of several vocal shouts of encouragement. The supporters yelled “love you” to him as a Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office deputy escorted him back to the Lenoir County Jail.
Judge Timothy Finan assigned attorney Kimberly Benton to be Wilson’s counsel.
Finan reminded the assembled friends and family that if it weren’t for the specific circumstances — a near-empty courtroom at the end of the day’s business — the group could be in trouble for contempt of court, but he would let the matter pass in this individual situation.
Deputies brought in suspects one-by-one into the courtroom, and Elwood Donnell Gray followed Wilson. Gray, 31, was the first to appear of the three who are charged with first degree murder in Poole’s death. Gray asked Finan to read the entire charge against him. He expressed concern about losing his job at Butterball, and asked about the possibility of getting bailed out of jail.
On his exit from the courtroom, Gray received his “love you” cheer and responded, “Love you too, but it might be over today. This is crazy.”
Each of the three men accused of first-degree murder have been held without bond at the county jail since their arrest Friday night. Police took into custody Gray, Joseph Michael Wilson and William Deshawn Wilson at 132 S. Adkin St. Justin Antonio Wilson was arrested at 470 E. Lenoir Ave.
Finan instructed the defendants that their attorney would have to make the necessary bond motion.
Justin Antonio Wilson, 23, and Joseph Michael Wilson, 27, received the same instructions as Gray, along with waves and cheers from their supporters.
Joseph Michael Wilson is due in Lenoir County Superior Court today on common-law robbery and larceny charges relating to a separate incident. Poole was supposed to be in superior court today as well, for felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance.
Because of the severity of the charge, N.C. Office of Indigent Defense Services in Raleigh will appoint attorneys for the three defendants accused of first-degree murder.
All four men are expected back in district court on Jan. 23.
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at WolfeReports.