Suspects awaiting trial face new charges

2 arrests follow separate break-in, robbery; Police looking for 3rd man

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

Three Catawba County men who were awaiting trial in a 2006 murder face an array of new charges after a separate larceny and attempted robbery on the same street in Lincolnton on Wednesday.

Rodney Davon Duncan, 19, of Maiden was charged in the theft of two guns from a Lincolnton police officer's home, and 17-year-old Gadarious Dermont Dorsey and 19-year-old Tristan Lawing, both of Newton, were charged in an unrelated attempted armed robbery.

All three men had previously been charged in the 2006 murder of a Catawba County man who authorities said was killed because he provided police with information on a drug deal.

Here's what happened Wednesday in Lincolnton:

At about 2:30 p.m., officer William Vaughn left his Newbold Street home to pick up his child from school, said Dean Abernathy, Lincolnton police chief.

When Vaughn returned about 15 minutes later, he noticed that the side entrance had been in kicked in and that his service revolver and another handgun were missing, Abernathy said.

Officers spotted three men nearby and charged Duncan, 25-year-old Maurice Gillespie and 16-year-old Grady Wilson, both of Lincolnton, with breaking and entering and larceny.

Around 10 p.m. Wednesday, three men in a 1993 Jeep Cherokee pointed a gun at a man walking on Newbold Street and demanded money, Abernathy said.

The man told officers he ran away from the car and heard a shot fired behind him, Abernathy said. Officers spotted the vehicle a few minutes later, and when they tried to pull it over, the car sped off, Abernathy said.

Three men jumped out of the still-running Jeep and sprinted, Abernathy said. Officers were able to catch two of them.

Tristan Lawing, 19, of Newton and 22-year-old Michael Byrne of Maiden were charged with attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon. Authorities were still looking for Dorsey on Friday.

In April 2006, Duncan, Lawing, Dorsey and two other men were charged by Catawba County authorities with murder in the March shooting of Spence Chislom.

Duncan and Lawing were being held Friday at the Harven Crouse Detention Center in Lincolnton, Abernathy said. Duncan was being held on a $50,000 secured bond, Lawing on a $75,000 secured bond.

The District Attorney's Office is planning to ask that the bonds be revoked, said Chief Assistant District Attorney Eric Bellas.


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