She also denied knowing Hill. In 2008, Richard Gagnon was sentenced to life in prison for the crimes. [31][32][33], In August 2021, a railyard employee who had witnessed the shooting died by suicide on his first day back to work following the shooting. Bruce Hill, 26, of Tabor City, N.C., in court on Tuesday. Biden during White House meeting", "After VTA shooting, San Jose library workers worry they're next", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2021_San_Jose_shooting&oldid=1151446405, This page was last edited on 24 April 2023, at 03:18. [17][25], At the same time the house fire was reported, the fire department received another call confirming there was an active shooter at the facility. You can cancel at any time. The VTA is a public transportation agency that operates bus and light rail services throughout Santa Clara County and employs about 2,000 workers. Read on for more details about Richard Gagnon's conviction. Bruce appealed against his sentence in 2014 but was denied. Hill was sentenced to life in prison without the . His sentence is expected to be completed in September 2014 and he will be returned to South Carolina to begin his sentence here. NC man seeks post-conviction relief in double homicide | Myrtle Beach Hill was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Tabor City man on trial after DNA links him to 2005 double murder - WECT See full bio . San Jose Obituaries | Local Obits for San Jose, CA - Legacy.com [19] A minute later, Santa Clara County authorities received 9-1-1 calls about shots being fired at the VTA facility. [56] On September 2, service along the Green and Blue lines was extended southward through downtown San Jose. However, new evidence found at the scene cast. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered is ready to dive into the brutal double murder of Charles and Diane Parker at the hands of Bruce Antwain Hill, a convicted murderer and robber. [17], At 6:33 a.m. the San Jose Fire Department received a call to respond to the VTA facility, though the first caller did not mention anything about an active shooter incident, according to dispatch audio. [37][38], Cassidy owned numerous registered firearms, including shotguns and long rifles. She was the daughter of the late Shirley Elizabeth Gray Mills and James Frederick. Kevin Can F**k Himself Season 2 Episode 4 Recap and Ending Explained Horry County Police Investigator Todd Cox said police then took another sample of Hill's DNA and had it tested and compared to the blood evidence gathered in 2005. "There was blood that belonged to Diane Parker, blood that belong to Charlie Parker and blood that belong to an unknown third party, it did not belong to Richard Gagnon.". Wynn Bruce pictured: Climate activist who set himself on fire at Your email will not be used for any other purpose. Where is Bruce Antwain Hill now? The Diane and Charles Parker Murder Sacred Space Memorial. 5 days, 1,000 cameras, still no shooter arrest, Myrtle Beach police cruiser stolen after officer investigates crash into city business, Conway SC man arrested for sexually abusing minor for eight years. [11], California's gun laws are among the strictest in the country. Hill is currently at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina, where he is serving his life sentence. When he was not farming, he enjoyed his time hunting, fishing, camping, and spoiling his grandchildren. They initially lived with the Parkers for quite some time before arguments about inheritance and the children's custody resulted in Bambi and Richard moving out. But in 2009, using DNA collected from Bruce Antwain Hill, the authorities were able to match samples from both crime locations. Billy Terrell, the private investigator, requests Allison to take Gertrude's death certificate so that she can continue in her plan to pretend to be her deceased. Earlier in the day the prosecution called three witnesses before resting the state's case. His sentence still stands. She does not think Hill's trial has gotten nearly as much attention, which she believes is unfortunate. A jury deliberated just over two hours Wednesday before convicting 26-year-old Bruce Antwain Hill of Tabor City, N.C., of two counts of murder and first-degree burglary. [8] A locker belonging to the gunman was found to contain suspected materials for bombs and detonator cords,[14] which were later deemed not to be dangerous. Bruce Kenneth Wagner is an actor, known for Bicentennial Man (1999). Charles Hill San Jose Police Program Manager/Supervisor Community Service Officer Unit at City of San Jos San Jose, California, United States Depends on whom you ask", "Santa Clara County DA: VTA shooter could have been stopped if feds told local authorities about prior detention", "Gunman who killed 9 in San Jose VTA railyard shooting fired 39 rounds, targeted victims", "12 guns, bombs and 25,000 bullets recovered from home of VTA shooter", "San Jose gunman had 22,000 rounds of ammunition at his house, which sheriff's office thinks he set on fire", "VTA Yard Shooting: Gunshots Appear to Have Continued for 10 Minutes After Initial Calls for Help", "Police release dramatic bodycam video of San Jose rail yard shooting", "Horror at the VTA: The unbridled terror, true heroism behind Bay Area's deadliest mass shooting", "Dramatic recordings of VTA employees as a killer stalked them", "8 people slain, suspected gunman kills himself in mass shooting at San Jose rail yard", "San Jose mass shooting: VTA shooter's family apologizes, says he felt lost to them for months", "Diagrams show mayhem during Samuel James Cassidy's rampage at S.J. Charles company was situated in a barn about 100 to 150 yards behind the Parker residence. [51][52] Due to a staffing shortage and the inaccessibility of the facility where the shooting occurred, the VTA discontinued the bus bridge on June 1 in favor of regular bus routes and confirmed that light rail service would be suspended indefinitely. Charges dismissed against Gagnon - SCNow A gunman killed nine people and then committed suicide, for a total of ten deaths. Bruce Hill now faces two counts of murder. [14] Police received reports of explosive devices inside the building, prompting a bomb squad to investigate. Then I handed it to another investigator. CONWAY, SC (WMBF) - The jury returned a guilty verdict Wednesday afternoon in the trial of a man accused in the April 2005 murder of Charlie and Diane Parker in Horry County. Hill and 44-year-old Richard Gagnon were each convicted in the Parkers deaths. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. [6][53] As a form of mutual aid, the San Francisco Municipal Railway, Golden Gate Transit, SamTrans, AC Transit, and the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District sent from 20 to 30 buses daily to Santa Clara County to supplement bus service while VTA workers attended funeral services for the victims. Hill was also found guilty of. [19] At 6:38 a.m., responding officers heard more shots being fired. On August 2, a free bus bridge began serving portions of the Blue and Orange lines between Paseo de San Antonio and Milpitas stations. Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park. I'd call out the number, and he'd put it in the box. Does that make you more secure that the right sample went where it was supposed to go?" Bruce Antwain Hill, 33, of Tabor City, N.C., had filed an appeal after his conviction of the murders of Diane and Charles Parker Sr., both found shot to death April 12, 2005, in their home off. Hill pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery in connection with a Nov. 15, 2006, incident in Tennessee. CONWAY, SC (WMBF) - A second man is on trial this week for a double murder in Horry County in April, 2005. However, it matched Hill in 2009 when his DNA was entered into a national database. [50], VTA light rail service was suspended on the day of the shooting and replaced by a bus bridge. Gagnon's appeal was heard by the S.C. Court of Appeals after the conviction of Bruce Antwain Hill, 27, of Tabor City, N.C., in September 2011. [54], The VTA resumed limited passenger service in stages throughout August and September. Our Sports Extra pages are formatted like traditional printed sports results, and are available in our e-Edition print-replica newspapers. However, the CBP agents apparently prioritized sex tourism in their questioning of Cassidy, noting "sex friendly" hotels that were mentioned in his writings and his text messages with women in the Philippines. Gagnon charged with first-degree murder: Richard Gagnon, who stands accused of shooting and http://bit.ly/pwdvpw etailersXclusive.com. inmate search detail report hill, bruce antwain (00223106) disciplinary sanctions sanctions not available in the automated system prior to january 2009 date description loss of television privileges for 360 days loss of visitation privileges for 90 days 09/28/2017 use,poss narc,marij,unauth drug,inhalant loss of canteen privileges for 135 days . [9][10] A total of 379 VTA employees were employed at the yard. Background. He said the labeling system was insufficient and questioned if DNA from another crime scene could have been sent off for testing in regards to the Parkers murders. Working as a school secretary with the Horry County School District, Diane loved scourging yard sales for crafts and antiques. Initially, authorities believed that Bruce and Richard were co-conspirators of the double homicide. Richard was granted a new trial in April 2015, and the prosecution against him was dismissed. According to her previous attorney Jim Irvin Bennet is currently in Florida. It wasn't until 2009 that Bruce was finally arrested after his DNA matched the unidentified DNA at the Parkers' home while he was detained for another home invasion charge. On both counts, Bruce was found guilty in September 2011. Since the shooting, bus operations were relocated to a temporary facility as the VTA took steps to restore light rail service,[60] including retraining and recertifying drivers and giving operators tours of the Guadalupe yard. Gagnon can be considered an innocent bystander, who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. All rights reserved. Jury selection was finished by 2:30 p.m., and attorneys finished their opening statements by the end of the day also. The facility consists of five separate buildings, including the control center for bus and rail operations, surrounding the agency's light rail vehicle storage and maintenance yard. [76] Liccardo met with President Joe Biden on July 12 to discuss strategies on combating gun violence in the U.S.[77], Following the shooting and rising anti-Asian sentiment in the United States, a petition was started, demanding officials to address concerns made by employees of the San Jose Public Library over their safety. All rights reserved. Myrtle Beach Police Officer Richard Beatty testified that he made a traffic stop on Hill on Ocean Boulevard later in April 2005, after the murders. In their opinion, issued Wednesday, justices said they did not find sufficient evidence to warrant any changes to Hills conviction. Gagnon successfully appealed his case and is awaiting a new trial. Hembree also said that Gagnon, while in jail, told a fellow inmate unrelated to the case about another person being involved in the Parkerss murder. Hembree said they are trying to extradite Hill to Horry County within the next week. He also emphasized that VTA employees have been essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] At the age of six he saw a pottery demonstration and knew that was what he wanted to do. You have permission to edit this article. [34], Police identified the gunman as 57-year-old VTA employee Samuel James Cassidy. Horry County Police crime scene investigator Robbie Caulder and other witnesses repeatedly told the jury how carefully that blood evidence was handled. However, his sentence still stands and Bruce, in his late 30s, is presently incarcerated in a cell at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina. Some photos were hard for family and friends to see, but Solicitor Greg Hembree used them to show the jury what evidence was found, especially blood drops. Bruce Antwain Hill was far from the group of potential suspects the authorities initially investigated. NC man convicted in shooting deaths of SC couple - ABC Columbia (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Gagnon was dating Diane Parker's daughter and Charlie Parker's stepdaughter at the time of their deaths. [22] Before their deaths, some of the victims had led coworkers to safety. Your login session has expired. The police also collected samples from an unknown suspect in an unrelated home invasion near Longs in Horry County in 2006. DNA sample ordered from 2005 double murder suspect Prosecutors claim the men worked together and are both responsible. [15], According to an initial review by the VTA, Cassidy had a pattern of insubordination and had gotten into verbal altercations with coworkers on at least four separate occasions. [19][21][22] Police and witnesses later said the gunman targeted some of his victims and spared others from being shot. After years in prison, authorities finally found Bruce Antwain Hill, the real murderer. [9] Agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded. [5] Over 100 people were at the facility at the time of the shooting, according to the sheriff. The Sun News reports 33-year-old Bruce Antwain Hill, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the deaths of Diane and Charles Parker Sr., requested a new attorney Tuesday, as part of an application for post-conviction relief. [55] On August 29, light rail service returned to the Orange Line and part of the Green Line. Issues with information-sharing between agencies had been a problem in recent years and has sometimes involved high-profile incidents such as the storming of the U.S. Capitol and the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Bruce Antwain Hill, 33, of Tabor City, N.C., had filed an appeal after his conviction of the murders of Diane and Charles Parker Sr., both found shot to death April 12, 2005, in their home off S.C. 90 near S.C. 22. During his closing argument Hazzard raised questions about how the DNA evidence was handled. Gagnon said he got the blood on his shoes after he went inside the Parkers home after police and crime scene had left and removed crime scene tape. Black Protestant church still vital despite attendance drop, Will he run? It's place in this cardboard box that had already been marked on it. Hill's trial began Monday. Diane and Charles Parker Murder | Where is Bruce Antwain Hill Now We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. He has found religion and lives a low-key life away from the limelight. Hembree said Hill is from Tabor City, NC, but he was arrested in Tennessee on robbery charges. The reason Hill's DNA was entered into the database was never mentioned in the trial. The gunman then walked over to Building A on the eastern side, where he continued firing. [22][27], At 7:12 a.m., the sheriff's office instructed the public to stay away from the vicinity of the facility. The people from Nixonville, South Carolina, were shocked when the fervently religious couple Diane Charles and Diane Charles Parker were found murdered at their home in April 2005. With this new evidence, officials with the 15th District Solicitor's Office said they hope that Hill can be brought back to South Carolina quickly, so he can be tried on the murder charges. Lets dive in, then! [61] The agency has not yet decided whether to remodel, or demolish and rebuild the buildings damaged during the shooting. On July 2, 1983, he married the love of his life, Cindy Wagner (Martinek), and together they purchased the family farm and raised 4 beautiful children. Bennett also was charged in the deaths of her mother and stepfather, but prosecutors later dropped those charges. [19] At 6:43 a.m., officers closed in on the gunman as he killed himself on the third floor of Building A, between administrative offices and the operations control room. Please subscribe to keep reading. South Carolina v. Hill :: 2014 :: South Carolina Supreme Court 2021 San Jose shooting - Wikipedia This led them to charge Bruce Antwain Hill with the double homicide and convict him. "One in 3.3 quadrillion? In a gross misjudgment by the authorities and the jury, Richard Gagnon, a 32-year-old white man residing in Horry County, South Carolina, was convicted of killing his girlfriend's parents. After the investigation began, authorities were quick to pin Bambi Bennett, Diane Parker's daughter and Charles Parker's step-daughter, and her boyfriend Richard Gagnon, who went on to be convicted for the murder. Richard Gagnon was convicted of murdering Charlie and Diane Parker but One of Richards shoes contained traces of Charles blood. After being unable to trace the sample, authorities sent it to the forensics lab at the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) in Columbia. Though the incidents were elevated to management and he faced disciplinary action, he had never been formally disciplined for any of them, and managers even defended his work. Hazzard asked the jury. Those witnesses helped Solicitor Greg Hembree connect Hill to the Parkers. [5], The day after the shooting, a vigil was held outside San Jose City Hall and attended by hundreds, including the victims' families and many VTA employees, who were dressed in their work attire. [68], On June 15, the San Jose City Council unanimously approved an ordinance requiring, among other things, retailers to record video and audio footage of gun sales, with the intention of preventing straw purchases of firearms. 13/09/2022 by Ellie. Both of his sentences were to run consecutively. Hill was accused of two counts of first-degree murder for Charles and Diane and . An investigation is underway after a shooting at a bar off of Highway 544 near Cox Ferry Road. As per the authorities, they also had a spat with Diane and Charles over custody of Bambis sons and inheritance. Police matched Bruce Antwain Hill's DNA to evidence at the. Skipper said everyone seemed interested because people in the community had known the victims for decades. Richard Gagnon was charged, and a jury convicted him in 2008. Attorney Greg Hembree's closing speech centered on the DNA evidence. [1] The FBI led the shooting site investigation, which concluded on May 31. Solicitor Greg Hembree said Bruce Antwain Hill, of Tabor City, was linked to the case by DNA evidence four years after those murders. Gagnon was ultimately convicted on charges of murder and sentenced to life without parole. Bruce Antwain Hill allegedly invaded the home of Charles and Diane Parker with the intention to rob them, but he killed them in the process. The trial took only about a day and a half. In his closing argument Solicitor Greg Hembree focused on the DNA evidence. All rights reserved. This isn't the first time hill has been in trouble with the law. Double murder suspect sentenced to life in prison, Coroner: NC college student struck, killed by vehicle in Myrtle Beach, Police: 1 dead, another hurt after shooting reported at Horry County bar, PHOTOS: Damage reported after Sunday storms move through Grand Strand, Coastal Carolinas Jerrod Clark, Lance Boykin sign with NFL teams, wmbf-publicfile@gray.tv - (843) 839-9623. CONWAY A North Carolina man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2005 shooting deaths of an Horry County couple. [2] About ten minutes after the first 9-1-1 calls were received, dispatchers reported the final sounds of gunshots. They reportedly lived under a tent in the forest and visited the house to shower and eat while the elderly couple were away. We affirm. Be the first one to comment on this story. [15], Cassidy's ex-wife, who had been married to him for ten years before their divorce in 2005, described him as having anger issues and often being angry at his co-workers and at the VTA for what he believed to be its unfair work assignments. The only thing that made the case more concrete against him was the presence of a motive. 24-year-old Antwain Hill is charged with the 2005 murders of Diane and Charlie Parker. [9][14][19], About 40 people were rescued from the area by law enforcement. Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson said Hills blood was found inside the Parker home, but at the time of Gagnons trial the blood evidence baffled litigators. However, the defense used false testimony from another convict, Robert Lee Mullins, who had been with Richard during pre-trial detention. [41] Cassidy's sister said that she suspected something happened at work on May 25 that motivated her brother to commit the shooting the day after. If you wish to know more about the case, youre at the right place. For each of the two murder charges, Judge Steven John sentenced Bruce Antwain Hill, of Tabor City, NC, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. [21], It was the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the Bay Area, exceeding the death toll of the 101 California Street shooting that occurred at a law firm in San Francisco in 1993, in which nine people including the gunman were killed. The police were able to identify the suspected murderer quickly; however . A testimony from a former preacher at Murrells Inlet Community Church also helped in clearing up Mullins' fake testimony. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered: Where is Richard Gagnon now. Bruce M. Winn (1959-2012) was an American ceramic artist . A trial date has not been set. DNA was even more important to the prosecution's case. She was dating Gagnon at the time. Video captured outside the Supreme Court building on Friday showed police responding to the area as screams of agony were heard. The state Supreme Court has affirmed the life sentence of a North Carolina man for the 2005 killings of an Horry County couple. Bambi was released later due to a lack of evidence tying her to the crime. Bruce was convicted on both charges in September 2011. Bruce Winn - Wikipedia A jury deliberated just more than two hours Wednesday. 59 year old Richard Gagnon had been ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty to first degree murder. These stars put the "best" in BFF. Richard was finally released in 2013 and his case was dismissed in 2015. Be the first one to comment on this story. Bruce Antwain Hill, 29, of Tabor City, N.C., had filed an appeal based on three issues from his September 2011 trial for the murders of Diane and Charles Parker Sr., both found shot to death April 12, 2005, in their home off S.C. 90 near S.C. 22. [6], Sheriff's deputies searched the gunman's house for three days, finding a total of 12 guns, 25,000 rounds of ammunition, and a dozen Molotov cocktails. Another man has also been convicted in the murders and burglary of the Parkers. These numbers are a million time more than the people on the planet. NC man convicted in shooting deaths of Horry County couple Man on trial after DNA links him to 2005 double murder - WMBF News Robert Dudek, Gagnon's attorney, filed a post-conviction motion for a new trial in 2012. Hill was convicted of the murders and the robbery, which led the judge to give him a life sentence followed by another 30 years in prison. A second man is on trial this week for a double murder in Horry County in April, 2005. The sentences will run at the same time. Bruce is survived by his wife, Cindy Wagner of Clarissa, Jeremy (Tiffany) Wagner and their children Mercedez, Aristea, and Quentin of Carlos, Alyssa (Justin) Droppo and their children Owen and Aria of Villard, Rachel (Darrick) Becker and their children Trenton, Garrett and Dillan of Clarissa, Joshua (Sierra) Wagner and their children Orlando and Anistyn of Winthrop, and many aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and friends. More at IMDbPro Contact Info: View agent, publicist, legal on IMDbPro. A testimony from. CONWAY - A probable cause hearing over DNA evidence could lead to new information in a 2005 Horry County murder case. His DNA was included in the FBI's national database since he had been detained in Tennessee on another accusation of the home invasion. [7] Although Cassidy did not use an assault weapon, Attorney General Rob Bonta cited the San Jose shooting in a statement opposing the ruling. Funeral Home website by. Bruce was convicted on both charges in September 2011. [6] The city announced and later passed a package of policy proposals intended to curb gun violence, including unprecedented liability insurance and compensation fee requirements for gun owners. The possible policy change could create a new council roadmap on where and how to override traffic impacts to allow development, even in outlying areas of the city. N. Carolina man seeks relief in S. Carolina double homicide Why are police flushing Ocean Blvd? The charges against him were ultimately dismissed in 2015. The Sun News reports 33-year-old Bruce Antwain Hill, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the deaths of Diane and Charles Parker Sr., requested a new attorney Tuesday, as part of an application for post-conviction relief. Bruce was born to George and Connie Wagner on October 23, 1961. [7], The VTA is a public transportation agency that operates bus and light rail services throughout Santa Clara County and employs about 2,000 workers. However, Horry County Police had released that information in June of 2009; Hill was being processed through a prison in Tennessee when his DNA sample was taken and entered in the database. Enter [69][70] On June 29, the City Council unanimously approved sending the ten ordinances to the City Attorney for review and to bring them back to council in September 2021[71] On January 25, 2022, the City Council passed an ordinance that would impose the first gun fee and gun liability insurance requirement in the country, prompting the National Association for Gun Rights to file a lawsuit against the city minutes later.