THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL

Three men from the Selmont community have been arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with the May 17 shooting death of a Potter’s Station man. One of them tried to get away without paying for a soda, which led to their capture.

Selma Police Chief Jimmy Martin issued a news release Thursday stating they believed the motive was robbery when James Whitt, 44, was shot and killed outside the back door on his mobile home. The amount taken was undetermined, police said.

Roderick Blue, 20, Octavius Brown, 21, and Javarez Wiggins, 20, are being held without bond in the Dallas County Jail.

“This was an effort between our patrol division and the detectives division,” Martin said. “Investigators gathered evidence and identified suspects, but did not have enough evidence to make the arrests until further evidence was gathered by the patrol division. Until after they (patrol) responded to a call at a local restaurant of a person not paying for a soft drink.”

While on the call to the restaurant, Officer Josh McDanal “performed very good police work” and was able to “tie the suspects to the murder,” Martin said.

Police said the incident is still under investigation and could result in at least one additional arrest.

Whitt’s death was the third murder in Dallas County this year. In both other instances, suspects were arrested and charged with murder.

Tommy Lee Gutheridge, 57, was arrested earlier this year and charged with murder in the shooting death of Sarah Monique Thomas, 27, as she sat in a vehicle at 34 County Road 157 in Five Points. Gutheridge called authorities shortly after shooting Thomas telling deputies where the incident occurred.

Zachariah Wilson, 27, was arrested and charged with capital murder in the April 13 shooting death of Jerry Lee Moore, 32, of Marion. Moore’s body was discovered leaned back behind the driver’s side of his station wagon at the intersection of Minter Avenue and Kayser Street.