Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 14, 1995 TAG: 9510150015
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Michael Wayne Crump turned himself in to police about 2:15 p.m. Police had been looking for him since they issued a warrant for his arrest late Thursday.
"If it's him, I thank God," said Jones' mother, Deborah Jones. "I always feel it might take awhile, but they'll catch his killer."
Crump is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Jones, who was shot at a friend's house in the 3700 block of Signal Hill Avenue early Oct. 3. Jones was dropping off his girlfriend and had been at the house for only 20 minutes when he was shot.
About 1 a.m., police said, the front door was opened at the Northwest Roanoke home, and a man in a hooded sweat shirt was in the doorway. Jones, who was seated on the couch, shouted at the man, who fired and hit Jones in the chest.
Jones, 21, died shortly afterward at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Maj. J.L. Viar would not comment about how police are linking Crump to Jones' death or whether they have recovered the murder weapon.
Jones' family members believe the shooter meant to kill someone else at the house that night. There were at least seven people in the one-story brick house at the time of the killing.
"The way we understand it, [the bullet] wasn't meant for Nike," said Jones' sister, Lise Jones.
Nike Jones was scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday on drug charges, along with his brother, Jerome "Doobie" Jones. Police arrested the brothers in January.
Nike Jones pleaded guilty to a simple marijuana possession charge this summer and would have faced little or no jail time. Sentencing for his brother - who pleaded guilty to selling crack and possessing a gun - was continued until next month.
Crump, of the 3600 block of Ferncliff Avenue Northwest, also is charged with the use of a firearm. He remained in Roanoke City Jail without bond Friday night and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday at 8:30 a.m.
by CNB