AP News, April 3rd, 2007
A man accused of killing a woman and critically wounding another to get to his brother's University of South Carolina football practice will face more charges in the weekend spree, a sheriff said Monday.
Demetrius Pepper, the brother of Gamecocks defensive lineman Nathan Pepper, is charged with fatally shooting 60-year-old Ellie Halfacre on Saturday in Newberry and stealing her car to drive to Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, where his brother's team was having a scrimmage.
Police said Demetrius Pepper, 24, shot a co-worker Saturday morning at a convenience store in Greenville County. The clerk, Nora Johnson, was in critical condition Monday, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Pepper then started to drive to Columbia, but the car he was driving broke down about 30 miles away in Newberry near Halfacre's home. There were two cars in the yard, both with the keys in them, but Pepper forced his way into the home and shot Halfacre before taking one of the vehicles, police said.
The car, along with a handgun and an undetermined amount of money, were found near the stadium, and Pepper was arrested outside the facility, authorities said.
"I don't have the slightest clue why he did this. It makes no sense," Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said.
Pepper is charged with murder in Newberry County, and Foster said grand larceny and armed robbery charges would be added there. Charges of assault and battery with intent to kill and possession of a weapon during a violent crime were filed against Pepper in Greenville County.
Pepper was being held Monday at a Newberry jail. Officials did not know when a bail hearing would be scheduled and it was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.
A telephone message left with Pepper's family in Greenville was not immediately returned.
Nathan Pepper is a sophomore who is expected to start on South Carolina's defensive line again next season. He took part in practice Monday, but coach Steve Spurrier did not make him available to reporters.
"He's handling it as well as can be expected," Spurrier said. "It's a very disappointing situation, as we all know for he and his family. We're all hugging up on Nate."
