Two Aberdeen men await an initial appearance in Lowndes County Justice Court on charges of capital murder.
Cedrick Whitley, 23, 20393 Egypt Road in Aberdeen, and Sylvester Johnson, 22, 1407 Cloverdale Place in Aberdeen, are charged with the murder of Clarence Trimble, 50, at Trimble”s club, Big C”s Game Room, on Stinson Creek Road, Saturday.
The pair likely will make an initial appearance today or Tuesday in Lowndes County Justice Court before the case is turned over to the grand jury, said Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office investigator Lt. Tony Perkins.
Suspects in capital murder cases are ineligible for bond. The two are in custody at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center.
Two of Trimble”s cousins found his body early Saturday morning behind the business” bar, Perkins said. He had been shot multiple times in the back of the head. His body was near the business” open cash register, and undetermined amount of money was taken.
Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant pronounced Trimble dead at the scene at 3:07 a.m.
The men were apprehended peacefully Saturday morning at Whitley”s house in Aberdeen after the pair were “developed as suspects,” said Perkins. Two handguns — a .22 automatic and a .380 automatic — were recovered during the investigation.
Perkins could not comment on how the two were linked to the crime as suspects or where the weapons were recovered, but said .22 caliber shell casings were found at the scene of the crime. Neither suspect was armed at the time of their arrest.
The two men reportedly spent several hours at Trimble”s club Saturday, remaining after all other patrons had gone for the night. Investigators speculate the men asked Trimble for change and shot him from behind after he opened the register.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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