‘They saved our lives’

Woman, teen were in line of fire
during shootout in Greenwood

April 4, 2006

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

Shaken, but very thankful, Judy Moseley says she saw angels in uniforms Saturday.
Officers shielded the car she was driving from a gunman who authorities say emerged from a red Camaro on U.S. 25 Business/Hampton Street in Greenwood and started firing.
“They saved our lives,” she said. “They further endangered their lives to save us. They are heroes.”
Moseley and Shelby Briley, her boyfriend’s 15-year-old daughter, were not wounded by the spray of gunfire that put five bullet holes in a law enforcement vehicle. The man accused of shooting at the officers, Sergio Gonzales, was shot at least once, authorities said. Gonzales allegedly shot a man earlier at Mineral Court, authorities said.
Moseley’s car, however, took a bullet in the fray.
She was taking the late-model Ford Escort LX to a mechanic on Monday to see if the bullet, which entered the car in the passenger’s side turn signal, was in the engine.
The State Law Enforcement Division wants the bullet as evidence as soon as it can be located in the car’s electrical system, Moseley said. She doesn’t know how she’s going to pay for that work and the light replacement.
Moseley said that from the location and trajectory of the bullet, there is a chance it would have hit Shelby — if the car hadn’t absorbed the slug.
And she’s certain that things would have been a lot worse for her and Shelby if law enforcement officers had not placed themselves between the gunman and her car.
“Yesterday, I was pretty bad,” Moseley said Monday, remembering the ordeal. “I was shook up when I saw the pictures (in The Index-Journal). I got tight in the chest — it hit me more when I saw the picture. I was trying to be strong for Shelby and not get upset. Then I got tearful.”
The photo to which Moseley referred is in the upper left corner of Sunday’s issue of The Index-Journal, showing officers emerging from a car with guns drawn and pointed at the red Camaro. Moseley said it hit her that just seconds before, her car was on the other side of the officers’ car.
“They went above and beyond their job that day,” she said. “I believe they saved my life. We had angels on our shoulders — the angels in the car beside us were those officers.”
An officer, emerging from the car that was shielding Moseley’s Ford from the gunman’s Camaro, drew his rifle to return fire and told Moseley to get out of there.
“We heard the boom of a gun,” she said, “and the back windshield of his car exploded.”
She backed up, went the other way to safety and then parked. She knew she and Shelby would have to go back.
“The officer by my car yelled ‘back up!’ I couldn’t go forward (because of another car) and, at the time, I didn’t think about going back(ward). When I backed up, we were upset and crying,” Moseley said. “I told Shelby, ‘We need to go back. We’re witnesses.’ We got to the Coleman Hall parking lot and we got out to find someone to talk to. A man came from the real estate office and he could tell we were shook up.”
The man got a state trooper to come over and talk to Moseley. That led to her statement being taken and another interview by a SLED agent.
That’s when they found what could be a key piece of evidence — the bullet — had entered Moseley’s car. Moseley said the SLED agent told her to have a mechanic retrieve it and turn it over to law enforcement.
Moseley said she had been at work earlier Saturday and, after work, was taking Shelby to Wal-Mart to buy a dress.
Shelby’s grades were up and school pictures were being taken soon. Then, “bam, it happened just that quick,” she said of the shootout. “We didn’t make it shopping.”
Moseley said she and Shelby stayed on the scene from 4 p.m. when the incident happened to 7. “I was pretty shook up, still,” she said.
The first person she called about the incident was her boyfriend, who thought it was an April Fools joke. After he was convinced the incident was real, Moseley said he was “very upset.”
“(Sunday) we came into town and took that way to Wal-Mart again. It was strange going by there,” Moseley said. “I thought, ‘Lord, I should have took another way.’”

Suspect in shooting previously charged with assault

April 4, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

The suspect law officials say opened fire on them Saturday has a prior offense of assaulting a Greenwood Police officer, Police Chief Gerald Brooks said.
Sergio Gonzales, of 208 Mineral Court, has been charged with seven counts of assault and battery with intent to kill after he reportedly shot his friend while the two were grilling out together about 4 p.m. Saturday at Mineral Court Apartments, officials said.
Gonzales left the scene and was pulled over at the intersection of U.S. 25/ Hampton Street and West Cambridge Avenue — between Eckerd and Carolina First — when an officer saw his red Chevrolet Camaro going through Uptown. Brooks said the suspect got out of his car and began to fire a weapon at the two officers and Greenwood County Sheriff’s officers who had arrived at the scene. Gonzales also has been charged with two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.
On Aug. 2, 2002, Gonzales had a similar offense when he struggled with an officer during an arrest after an assault on a female and used the officer’s dropped flashlight to hit him in the face. Gonzales was then charged with assault and battery with intent to kill and assault and battery of a police officer while resisting arrest.
When the suspect opened fire on officials Saturday, Brooks said they returned fire and Gonzales was shot at least once, possibly twice.
Gonzales was taken by ambulance to Self Regional Medical Center, where he underwent surgery Saturday. He remains hospitalized.
Brooks said Gonzales’ friend who was shot at Mineral Court Apartments, known as “Porkchop,” also underwent surgery and remains hospitalized.
Self Regional spokesman Dan Branyon said there was no information on a patient by that name.
While the investigation of the officer-involved shooting will be continued by State Law Enforcement Division investigators, Brooks said he thinks the police department’s investigation is basically complete.
“I feel comfortable that (the officers’) actions were in accordance with their training, the law and departmental policy.”
Greenwood County Sheriff Dan Wideman said he will make a statement after the SLED investigation is complete.
“To comment regarding details of the incident now would be inappropriate, but I will make everything available to the public as soon as SLED finishes their investigation,” Wideman said Saturday. “I will, however, say that all of the officers on the scene did an exemplary job this afternoon.”

A wild ride brings Munn to Bearcats

April 4, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Lander University starting pitcher Chris Munn has led the life of a true journeyman.
Munn got a quick, albeit unfortunate taste of it as an 8-year-old, when he made the 260-mile trek with his family from Homestead to Broward County, Fla. after Hurricane Andrew slammed into Florida’s Atlantic coast.
After spending almost 10 years in Bradenton, the redshirt junior returned to his journeyman ways during his college life.
This stint at Lander, where leads the Bearcats in victories (recording seven of the team’s 24 wins this season), is his fifth college in four years.
“I like to move around,” Munn said. “I’m not much of a homebody. If I’m not playing, then I’m usually out with my friends or something like that. Moving around is really no problem. That’s not a challenge for me.”
But Munn, who transferred to Lander from the University of South Carolina, feels he’s found a home in Greenwood.
“I’ve got a good situation here,” Munn said. “(Lander) coach (Bill) Jarman is a great coach. I love the team. It’s the best chemistry I’ve ever worked with. Everybody gets along well.”
Munn hasn’t had that much time to work with his new teammates. He came to Lander this winter, transferring in during the spring semester.
While the rest of the Bearcats were taking in fall practice — their first under Jarman — Munn was competing for a spot with the top-ranked Gamecocks.
Munn was drafted by New York Mets in 28th round out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale in 2002 but instead chose to attend Manatee Junior College in hopes of improving his draft stock.
“The toughest transition for me was from high school to junior college,” Munn said. “I had a somewhat forgettable freshman season. I wasn’t used to college. I was on my own for the first time. My sophomore year was better.”
So, Munn left Manatee to be a part of USC’s recruiting class of 2005, which was rated No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball.
But when the practice season came to a close, the 21-year-old didn’t get the news he hoped for. Gamecocks coach Ray Tanner told him he wouldn’t get a significant amount of innings and would be best suited to transfer somewhere that might give him that chance.
“It was tough to hear because I busted my butt all fall, trying to make the team,” Munn said. “I did everything I could. I was definitely disappointed. I mean, everyone wants to play at a school like Carolina.
“I was disappointed for a while, but I just got right back on the boat. I couldn’t just stop playing baseball because of that.”
Tanner and assistant head coach Jim Toman pointed Munn Northeast to Greenwood and Lander University. Munn said the main reason was to work under Jarman, who was the pitching coach for Coastal Carolina for 10 years before coming to Lander this season.
“I knew nothing about Lander when coach (Jarman) called me up,” Munn said. “Coach Tolman told me a lot about him and the situation here. Coach (Jarman) told me there’d be a lot of innings here for me and that I’d be a starter.”
And start is something Munn has done.
The 6-foot-4 hard-throwing righty, who has topped out his fastball at 91 miles per hour, is tied for the team lead in games started with fellow junior-college transfer Derek Wilson, a cagey southpaw from North Olmstead, Ohio. Both have nine starts.
The Bearcats’ top two starters have worked well together. The duo lead or are together tied for the lead in most of the team’s pitching catagories, including wins (Munn, 7), innings pitched (Wilson, 61), strikeouts (Munn, 55) and complete games (tied, 2).
“We joke about being the two-headed monster because we both usually pitch on Saturday,” said Munn, who has a 2.76 ERA in 10 appearances for the Bearcats.
“I think it’s worked out well for us because when you go from a lefty that throws a lot of junk to a righty that throws mostly power stuff, it’s tough for teams to adjust.
“It really is a great advantage.”
Like every collegiate player, Munn’s ultimate goal is to hear his name called out on draft day once again. But for right now, the junior has his eyes and game set on picking up wins for the Bearcats.
“It’s definitely something I think I can do,” Munn said. “But right now, I’m not working hard to get drafted. I don’t think you can operate like that. I try to do what I can to help the team. I just want to get these people out.
“My decision to come to Lander wasn’t about getting drafted. It was based on getting innings. Getting work. Coach Jarman has a vast amount of pitching experience and I’m just going to try to soak up as much as I can over the next two seasons.”
Ron Cox covers prep sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ronc@indexjournal.com

Opinion

S. C. lottery takes a hit as Tarheels start sales

April 4, 2006

Now that North Carolina has gone into the lottery business, it’s expected to be only a matter of time before the lottery revenue for South Carolina will decline.
There may be some North Carolinians who will continue to come across the border to purchase lottery tickets in the Palmetto State, but common sense dictates that the numbers will be sharply reduced ..... in ticket buyers and dollars.
How much that will be is yet to be seen. One thing seems clear, however. The scholarship and other lottery generated money available for use in a variety of ways for education in South Carolina will be less.
Consider: Nine of South Carolina’s 10 top lottery-sales spots are in York County. That county lies next to the huge Charlotte and Gastonia, area where North Carolina lottery tickets will be sold.

AGAIN, COMMON SENSE SAYS that will have a significant negative impact on those York County lottery ticket outlets, and, thus, the state.
Eventually, it should all settle down so lottery officials and lawmakers will have a better idea for what they can spend and, of course, what students can get. From there on they can get a better picture of adjusted revenue for projection purposes. Meanwhile, it would be wise to lower expectations by everyone concerned. In short, expect the worse but hope for the best. At this point there’s not much else they can do. It’s a gamble, no matter what ..... and no pun intended. Hopefully, we didn’t get so accustomed to having more that we can’t adjust to having less. That includes lottery officials, state lawmakers, and every facet of education that has come to depend on lottery money.

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

Obituaries

James E. Brown Sr.

GREAT FALLS — James Edward Brown Sr., 67, of 62 Pine St., died Sunday, April 2, 2006 at his home.
Born in Chester, he was a son of the late Oscar E. and Ruth Hall Brown. He was an electrician with Monsanto Plant in Greenwood for many years and served in the Army. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include two sons, James E. Brown Jr. of Chester and Cari Brown of Winston, Ga.; two daughters, Susan Mundy of Abbeville and Sherry Ponder of Winston; a sister, Betty Brown Fuller of Abbeville; five grandchildren.
Graveside services are 3 p.m. Wednesday at Long Cane Cemetery, Abbeville.
Visitation is 1:30-2:30 Wednesday at Harris Funeral Home, Abbeville.
The family is at the home of his sister, Betty Fuller, 602 Church St., Abbeville.
Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Harris Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harrisfuneral.com

Christine Humphreys

Christine Reynolds Humphreys, 68, of 417 Willson St., wife of T.W. Humphreys, died Monday, April 3, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of her daughter Jane Humphreys Callison, 304 Old Abbeville Highway, Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Roseada ‘Sis’ Lanham

PLUM BRANCH — Roseada “Sis” Lanham, 86, of Route 1, Box 62-A, died Sunday, April 2, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in McCormick County, she was a daughter of the late Augustus James and Gertrude Brunson Lanham. She was a member of Mount Moriah Baptist Church and the Burial Aide Society.
Survivors include three sons, Willie Thomas Lanham of the home, Raymond Lanham of Clinton, Md., and Eddie Lee Lanham of Augusta, Ga.; a daughter, Queen Ester Lanham of McCormick; two sisters, Hattie Mae Holloway of Fort Washington, Md., and Beulah Mae Gilchrist of the home; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Solomon J. Moore

McCORMICK — Services for Solomon J. Moore are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Tranquil AME Church, Troy, conducted by the Rev. Carnell Moton, pastor. Assisting are the Revs. Albert Bell and Anthony Talbert. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Michael, Edward and Richard Gilchrist, Ronnie Mims, Patrick Jennings and Tim Brown.
Flower bearers are McCormick High School Class of 1988 members.
Honorary escorts are Tony Lomax and Kevin Callaham.
The family is at the home, Talbert Road.
Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

Maltiee Boozer Nelson

PHILADELPHIA — Maltiee Boozer Nelson died Saturday, March 25, 2006.
Born in Greenwood County, S.C., she was a daughter of Lula Solomon and Emery Boozer. She was a graduate of Brewer High School and Temple Nursing School and a retired nurse.
Survivors include three daughters, Larussia, Marie and Leeanora; two sons, Larry and Tyrone; a brother, James Boozer of Greenwood; a sister, Joan Fulton of Seattle; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Services were April 1, 2006 at Ivan M. Kimble Funeral Home, Fernwood. Burial was in Fernwood Cemetery.
Ivan M. Kimble Funeral Home was in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., Greenwood.

Isabell Weeks

CALLISON — Isabell McIntyre Weeks, 87, of 2016 County Line Road, widow of Pate W. Weeks, died Monday, April 3, 2006 at her home.
Born in Madison, Ga., she was a daughter of the late Jim W. and Roxie Moore McIntyre. She retired from Greenwood Mills Plant No. 5 and was a member of Bold Springs Baptist Church and Greenwood Mills Quarter Century Club.
Survivors include five children, Jim Weeks of Callison, Vera Bradley and Ernest Weeks, both of Saluda, Clara Turner of Troy and Evelyn Trail of Royston, Ga.; 20 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Blyth Funeral Home, conducted by the Revs. Eugene Thrasher and Bennie Riddlehover. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Wes Weeks, Edward Weeks, Tony Horne, Michael Horne, Bobby Weeks, Roger Weeks, Johnny Pate, Jamie Turner and Ray Lewis.
Visitation is 6-9 tonight at the funeral home.
The family is at the home.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Greenwood, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Saree Kerr

Saree Talbert Kerr, 90, of 1110 Marshall Road, widow of David Paul “DP” Kerr, died Monday, April 3, 2006 at Wesley Commons.
Born in Edgefield, she was a daughter of the late George Alexander and Mary Frances Winn Talbert. She was a graduate of Plum Branch High School and retired from Bradley Post Office. She was a member of Cedar Springs ARP Church.
Survivors include a sister, Alta T. Self of Parksville.
Graveside services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Cedar Springs ARP Church Cemetery.
Visitation is after the services.
The family is at the home of a great-niece Angela S. White, 108 Griffin St., Bradley.
Memorials may be made to Cedar Springs ARP Church.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com