Author Thomas Peace Jr.
Update: On Thursday, July 05, 2012, members of the Henderson Police Department Criminal Investigation Division and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation arrested Arthur Thomas Peace Jr., 20, 1016 Lehman Street, Henderson and charged him with one count of First Degree Murder. Peace was placed in the Vance County Jail without bond. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled in Vance County District Court on July 13, 2012.
Originally published July 4th at 11:46am:
On Wednesday, July 4, 2011, at 3:32 A.M., Henderson Police Officers responded to the 1300 block of South William Street in response to a subject lying beside the roadway. Clayton Batchelor Jr., 14, 722 Harriett Street Henderson was found deceased at the scene. Batchelor succumbed to injuries sustained from a gunshot wound.
Batchelor was transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Chapel Hill. The Henderson Police Department Criminal Investigation Division and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are conducting the follow up investigation.
Whatever happened to the curfew? What is a 14 year old doing out at that time -and nobody seemed to miss him?
The WRAL channel 5 story is worth watching.
I just read on WRAL that they already have someone in custody in connection to the shooting.
That curfew was one of those ‘feel good laws’ that was enacted, but no body knows how to enforce it. Sorta like the one where the school board banned smoking on the grounds, but found it hard to enforce it becasue people smoking in the cars. Or what about the one that was passed about playing loud music in your cars? Ever hear of anyone getting arrested for it? Hats off to the HPD for finding this guy; lets see how long it takes to go to court, or what his sentence will be. That’ll tell you where our problems are with the court system.
My question is where are all the ‘so-called’ reverends/preachers who ALWAYS b#@#@ and moan about the Henderson Police Dept. b/c they alledgedly wronged ‘lil’ johnny’ b/c his music was so loud it was shaking the windows at Party Pick Up? Come out into the “hood” and tell your lil’ brothas and sistas to put the knives/guns away and learn to agree to disagree. You seem to find time to complain about every other instance when it involves the HPD…can’t you come out and organize a “COMMUNITY RELATIONS” rally instead of a “back 2 school” block party? You want to know why you’re losing an entire generation of black males…..look in the mirror and you will see your answer. PERIOD….END OF STORY!!!!
R.I.P. another young one!!!!
The question, One Voice, is whether the judges dismiss them or not (yes).
Very well said, Deception
Deception–you’re right on. If the Revs. dared to ride their streets at night and and take them home, take them to church and have meetings on birth control, etc.–it should make a difference.
Start doing something before there are problems. Stand behind the police, teachers, etc. .
Here’s another example of a young man who after he is killed is proclaimed to be such a nice,polite kid by Vance County’s own Sheriff White. Like I said earlier, come down off your pedestals and do something for your young black males and females who are packing more and more these days. It’s easy to go talk to a parent to tell them you’re sorry for their loss,etc. but why not be more PROACTIVE? Did some of you forget where you came from? Just b/c you have nice clothes and try nice cars don’t mean you are above reproach.
Interesting that the obituary lists his dad as being from Windsor. Upon further research you will find that his 31 year old dad is a resident of a NC Public Prison in Bertie County. According to NC Crime Stats he has been charged with and/or convicted of crimes dating all the way back to 1995. I’m guessing this young man who was killed was raised in a single parent household? Here’s another subtle question to all of you who live with your head in the sand…..Why are all the photos of this youngsta being shown with him throwing up gang signs? Every picture I have seen has him throwing up the “devil’s pitchfork” upside down. The only one I saw of him that didn’t was the one he took of himself standing in front of a mirror. Ask yourself this today as you head off to throw yo’ change in the offering plates across the county……Are you doing enough to help these young, lost, misguided souls who apparently don’t have any role models in the home? P.S.and you continue to say that Henderson/Vance County doesn’t have a gang problem?
just because the boy was right down the street from his house at 3 o’clock in the morning doesnt mean that his moms deserves for her son to be shot in the head by some 20 year old grown man over a bicycle
just another senseless tragedy. Until some REAL men start raising their children the RIGHT way then you will continue to lose an entire generation of young,black males. Statistics don’t lie…PEOPLE LIE!!
I also agree that this situation is a reflection that African Americans continue to suffer at the hands of themselves due to a complete lack of understanding of the bigger picture. This child was a very troubled young man who did not have a structured and balanced home including a mother and father. The problems which plague the African American community are very plentiful stemming back over many generations. It seems to be very easy to blame the police department, the mother, the father, the church, etc….but few people understand the root-cause of the problems. We must understand first how to express love and respect for each other before establishing any marches and protests. We must learn how to develop strategies and tactical plans to achieve positive results. We cannot move forward towards progress by placing blame on one person or group. If anyone on this website is really seriously concerned about making significant progress in the community, please write back with your comments. I believe that we can bring the right people together who possess different gifts and talents to solve our own problems without waiting on outside persons or groups to address them. Although the judicial system will administer justice from a legal perspective, let us not allow Clayton’s death to be in vain by inaction and complacency. I am looking forward to hearing from each of you.
On-Track: you couldn’t be more right with your statements but it seems unless their is a TV camera or a newspaper reporter nearby some of the so-called preachers/pastors/reverends tend to forget where they came from. They are too worried about being seen on TV or making bogus claims against a dept. than to come to the ‘village’ and demand that the lil’ ones put the weapons up and call it OVER!!!! While the US Soldiers are over on foreign soil fighting for our right to be able to be FREE….all across the USA you have ******** being committed. I’m doing my part…are you? Even when the cameras aren’t rolling and the newspaper reporter isn’t around?