Spartanburg's top two law enforcement officials faced questions at a NAACP meeting Thursday night about concealed weapons permits and recent shootings that left three people dead, one wounded and no one charged.




The meeting was held at Silver Hill Memorial United Methodist Church.

Sheriff Chuck Wright faced the families of Michael Deangelo Gentry-Hill Jr., 22, of 102 Richborough Drive, and Darren Tyree “Ty” Hill, 18, of 112 Shelby St., who died after a shooting earlier this month at Lee's Crossing Apartments.

They were shot in the head by Douglas Williams, 29, who is a convicted felon. He told investigators the two were breaking into his apartment. Williams was not charged.

Wright told those in attendance that under state law, he could not charge Williams.

“I have to go by the law,” Wright said. “I would have preferred this young man (Williams) to have stayed in the car and called 911.”

Wright continued to defend his stance on residents obtaining concealed weapons permits.

“I approve of people who qualify for a CWP,” Wright said. “I don't believe a piece of property is worth shooting a human being. I'm not saying get your guns and shoot people who bother you. I don't believe in using a weapon for everything.”

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At a candlelight vigil held Friday in Barnet Park, people gathered to remember Trayvon Martin, the Florida teenager whose shooting made national news. They also remembered others lost to violence – father, brother, uncle, son, cousins.




The NAACP Youth Unite of Spartanburg sponsored the vigil. Children and teenagers wore shirts with the words “Let Me Live” on them. They spoke out against violence and shared how it has touched their lives.

The event was also a call for unity.

Pat Kabore spoke at the vigil.

She said it was encouraging that people young and old attended the event despite the rain. About 60 people were there.

Kabore said each one represented a neighbor, a family, a community.

“I think the thing that was important is that people are committed to making a change, that they want a change, that they need a change, that they're tired of seeing their neighbors or someone they know loose a young person,” Kabore said.

“The community is tired of this … a life is a life, and how much is a life worth? Is it worth a house; is it worth a car; is it worth a truck? Because once it's gone, it's gone and it takes a village to raise a child, but first you have to be a village,” she said.

Cory Morris said it was time for people to “step up,” get involved and take back the community. He challenged those at the vigil to recognize their worth.

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Michael at the Closing Reception for The Ultimate In Trial Advocacy Program held at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Mass. March 10-March 15, 2012.  With the inaugural program held in 1990, the American Trial Lawyers Association "Ultimate" was the first of its kind to train trial lawyers in advanced communication skills and trial strategies. Using more than 20 years of ATLA/AAJ research, ATLA's Ultimate remains the national gold standard of trial advocacy programs.

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