His DNA was included in the FBI's national database since he had been detained in Tennessee on another accusation of the home invasion. The fact that the blood was there instead of being a weakness in the case which it could be became a strength in the case because it corroborated Gagnons statement to the jailhouse informant, said Hembree. Bruce was airlifted to hospital but later died from his injuries. As the owner and operator of MIRRORTEC, he was self-employed and loved fishing and hunting. CONWAY A North Carolina man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2005 shooting deaths of an Horry County couple. 2023 www.fayobserver.com. [9][10] A total of 379 VTA employees were employed at the yard. 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. Hill's trial began Monday. Solicitor Greg Hembree said Bruce Antwain Hill, of Tabor City, was linked to the case by DNA evidence four years after those murders. Years after Richard Gagnon was sent to prison, Bruce Antwain Hill was arrested for another home invasion in Tennessee. Count on News 13 to continue to follow this developing story. [3][15][17], A CBP report on the encounter, released in July 2021, revealed Cassidy had harbored "dark thoughts about harming" two specific people, whose names were redacted from the report; it is unclear if they were connected to VTA or among the shooting victims. Thus, he was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment without the chance of parole in 2008. 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. Both of his sentences were to run consecutively. Bruce spent much of his life milking cows and when he sold his dairy cattle, he bought his first herd of beef cattle. [20] The shooting began in a conference room in Building B, on the western side of the yard, during a power crew meeting with the local Amalgamated Transit Union president, who was spared. "It's sealed. "Even though it is a recently developed evidence it's not evidence of Gagnons innocence.. [47] Governor Gavin Newsom made similar remarks during a visit to San Jose. He received concurrent life sentences for the murders and a concurrent thirty-year sentence for the burglary. Initially, authorities believed that Bruce and Richard were co-conspirators of the double homicide. Both of his sentences were to run consecutively. Based on witness testimonies and Charles blood found on their footwear, Bambi and her boyfriend, Richard Gagnon, were arrested 2 weeks later by the police. Bruce and Richard were initially believed to be co-conspirators of the double murder, but Bruce refused to know Richard in a prison interview. PDF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA In The Supreme Court [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. As a child Bruce enjoyed spending his time farming with the family and hanging out with the neighborhood kids. The verdict took jurors less than two and a half hours to reach. 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. Hill was accused of two counts of first-degree murder for Charles and Diane and . + Add or change photo on IMDbPro . your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. He has settled on the Carolina Coast. [37] She also said that he had talked about killing people at his workplace more than a decade ago. Earlier in the day the prosecution called three witnesses before resting the state's case. Three murder charges dropped | News | myhorrynews.com Bruce appealed against his sentence in 2014 but was denied. Horry County police charged Hill in 2009 after his DNA sample, which was taken when he was committed to the Tennessee Department of Corrections to serve a seven-year prison sentence, was uploaded. "You just take stuff and throw it in the bucket," Hazzard said about the evidence handling process used by Horry County Police. However, it matched Hill in 2009 when his DNA was entered into a national database. [10] The VTA also announced plans to help survivors and victims' families and partner with them on erecting a public memorial to the victims. Heres when SC Sen. Tim Scott will announce his 2024 presidential plans, Richland County sheriff calls shooters cowards after 11 hurt at post prom flash party, Georgia man facing murder charge after body found in ditch by SC road, cops say, Driver killed in head-on collision on South Carolina road, Highway Patrol says, Why the SC Supreme Court ordered a convicted killer released 16 years early back to prison. [16], There were ten fatalities in the shooting, including Cassidy. The charges against him were ultimately dismissed in 2015. That is unless he fights it which could delay his arrival by up to 30 days, once he is here, he will be arrested, formally charged, and a trial date will be set. [37][38], Cassidy owned numerous registered firearms, including shotguns and long rifles. As of this date, Bruce is married. Lets dive in, then! However, Bruce Antwain Hill denied this in a prison interview. [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. They also found a few drops of blood at the crime scene that did not belong to the victims. His two sentences have to flow one after the other. Gagnon, who had dated Diane Parkers daughter, Bambi Bennett, denied playing a role in the slayings and during a hearing in September 2013 Gagnon denied knowing Hill. Charles Edward Parker Sr. was born in Conway in Horry County, South Carolina, on December 22, 1950. 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. Black Protestant church still vital despite attendance drop, Will he run? Dateline: Secrets Uncovered: Where is Richard Gagnon now. Richardson said he did not have any new information about Gagnons case and that it continues to progress through court proceedings. Enter [17][43] John Sandweg, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said that there is no procedure for customs officials to alert local law enforcement agencies about a U.S. citizen detained as a safety threat. Hill's DNA was entered into the database at that time because he was being admitted to prison in Tennessee for a robbery charge. 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 . Unidentified DNA at the crime scene remained the only thing that could get Richard out, and it did. In 2008, Richard Gagnon was sentenced to life in prison for the crimes. The trial took only about a day and a half. These numbers are a million time more than the people on the planet. The authorities initially thought that Bruce and Richard were co-conspirators of the double homicide, but Bruce declined to know Richard in a prison interview. His sentence is expected to be completed in September 2014 and he will be returned to South Carolina to begin his sentence here. Charles Hill - San Jose Police Program Manager/Supervisor - LinkedIn [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. Those witnesses helped Solicitor Greg Hembree connect Hill to the Parkers. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered--Who is Bruce Antwain Hill and where is he today. [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. Your login session has expired. He appealed for post-conviction relief again in 2017 and even asked for a new attorney in his application. [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. [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. Double murder suspect sentenced to life in prison - WMBF News Be the first one to comment on this story. "At approximately 6.30pm, an individual went on to the plaza in front of the Supreme Court building and set themselves on fire," a court spokesperson told News Nation. When he was not farming, he enjoyed his time hunting, fishing, camping, and spoiling his grandchildren. New murder charges in deaths of Horry County couple - SCNow [28][23][29] Two of the victims were rushed to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in critical condition, but one was declared dead upon arrival and the other died later that day. rail yard", "San Jose shooting: Body-camera footage shows tense moments as officers approach gunman", "Remembering the San Jose VTA shooting victims", "What we know about the victims of the San Jose mass shooting", "San Jose shooting latest updates: Cassidy reportedly had been questioned by federal officials over 'hatred' of workplace", "San Jose mass shooting is now the deadliest in Bay Area history", "The Bay Area's deadliest mass shootings", "San Jose mourns after deadliest shooting in region's history: 'We can't sweep this under the rug', "San Jose union blames VTA after worker suicide", "Samuel Cassidy: Suspect identified in San Jose mass shooting that left 9 dead including gunman", "VTA shooting witness blasts management over massacre: 'The stage was set for this disaster', "Who is San Jose suspect Samuel Cassidy? Tabor City man on trial after DNA links him to 2005 double murder - WECT All rights reserved. New murder charges in deaths of Horry County couple. Gagnon is now serving a life sentence for the murders of Charlie and Diane Parker, who died of gunshot wounds inside their home on Highway 90, just south of Highway 22. Bond set at $50,000 for Gagnon, convicted of 2005 double murder in [8] The shooting took place at the VTA's Guadalupe Division facility, which is located in the Civic Center neighborhood of San Jose, near the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office and San Jose Police Department headquarters. Richard Gagnon claimed that he had no involvement with the murder and that the blood under his shoes could have gotten there while he went to the house to get Bambi's keys. All rights reserved. [13], A hotline was set up for VTA employees and family members for additional information about the shooting and the victims. Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park. He has found religion and lives a low-key life away from the limelight. Wynn Bruce pictured: Climate activist who set himself on fire at The reason Hill's DNA was entered into the database was never mentioned in the trial. Supreme Court upheld his sentence in July 2014, charges against him were ultimately dismissed in 2015, Bar shooting in Horry County left 1 person dead, 1 injured, Castle for sale in SC has it all gargoyles, lions heads and even a sword in stone, Take a look at this nearly $2M home in Myrtle Beach, SC, Baseball player from Elon University killed in hit-and-run accident in Myrtle Beach Sunday, Off-duty Myrtle Beach SC firefighter rescues four from burning home without safety gear. San Jose Obituaries | Local Obits for San Jose, CA - Legacy.com Im delighted that the Supreme Court has upheld Bruce Hill appeal, 15th Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson said Thursday. "We need the truth, and we need justice.". [9] It was unclear if he also legally owned the high-capacity magazines used in the shooting; they are prohibited in California unless they were obtained before January 1, 2000, and the buyer was not otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms. 24-year-old Antwain Hill is charged with the 2005 murders of Diane and Charlie Parker. He used three semiautomatic handguns in the shooting, which were legally obtained. "One in 3.3 quadrillion? Bruce Winn - Wikipedia He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Connie Wagner, his sister Carla Hoefer, nephew Mark Hoefer, and niece Kelly Bentz. Investigation Discoverys Unusual Suspects: Deadly Intent: Shattered Dreams lays down the facts and follows the complex trials meticulously, making it easier for the viewers to understand. Our Sports Extra pages are formatted like traditional printed sports results, and are available in our e-Edition print-replica newspapers. Diane and Charles Parker Murders: Where is Bruce Antwain Hill Today 2023 Iten Funeral Home. Though Bambi was later released due to lack of evidence, with false testimony and other underlying clues, Gagnon was convicted and sentenced to prison for life without parole. [46] President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both urged Congress to take action on gun control legislation. That blood did not match anyone until 2009. [54], The VTA resumed limited passenger service in stages throughout August and September. Where is Bambi Bennetts Ex-Boyfriend Richard Gagnon Now. 1 2 FACTS Appellant was convicted of two murders and first-degree burglary, arising from a Messages run for up to one year and you 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. Biden ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff and called the shooting a "horrific tragedy". [2][8][14][26] According to the sheriff on June 1, the gunman shot himself twice: first under the chin, then in the side of the head. 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. 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. Hill was also found guilty of burglary, and John sentenced Hill to 30 years in prison for that crime. Gagnon was ultimately convicted on charges of murder and sentenced to life without parole. Vivian Skipper lives near the home where the Parkers were murdered, and she said Monday she has been interested in the case since it began. Jury selection was finished by 2:30 p.m., and attorneys finished their opening statements by the end of the day also. He was tried and convicted of two counts of murder and first-degree burglary and was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences, plus another concurrent 30 years. Bruce Hill, 26, of Tabor City, N.C., in court on Tuesday. The VTA is a public transportation agency that operates bus and light rail services throughout Santa Clara County and employs about 2,000 workers. Gagnon can be considered an innocent bystander, who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. [67] The liability insurance and annual fee policies were criticized by the executive director of Gun Owners of California, who said California's preemption laws gave the city no authority to enact differing gun laws. Funeral Home website by. However, the defense used false testimony from another convict, Robert Lee Mullins, who had been with Richard during pre-trial detention. We've got you covered if you're looking for box scores and other late sports results that missed the printed newspaper because of early deadlines. After a witness was found to have lied during Gagnons trial, he successfully appealed his case. A testimony from. No one was inside the residence at the time. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Bruce appealed against his sentence in 2014 but was denied. to the family or plant a tree [9] Agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded. [14] Police received reports of explosive devices inside the building, prompting a bomb squad to investigate. Though Bambi Bennett was let go due to lack of evidence, Richard Gagnon was convicted of the crime after another convict falsely testified against him.