Teens face hearing in shooting death
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on July 22, 2005 1:45 PM
Two teenagers from Dudley will return to Wayne County Superior Court for a pre-trial hearing in the fatal shooting of man in what authorities called a drug-related crime.
Michael Omar Mozingo, 18, of Brentwood Drive and Donovan Ray Lofton, 18, of South Running Deer Circle were accused of taking part in last year's murder of Billy Joe "B.J." Gregory of Dudley. They are also charged with attempted armed robbery and conspiracy.
A hearing for pre-trial motions is set for Sept. 7. A trial date has not been scheduled.
A third teen, James Marqui Bowden, 17, of Daffodil Drive, Dudley, also was charged with murder, attempted armed robbery and conspiracy.
Gregory was killed Oct. 15 by a single gunshot to the chest. Sheriff's deputies found him in his mobile home at 201 Hazelwood Drive. He was taken by ambulance to Wayne Memorial Hospital and died soon after arrival.
Mozingo and Lofton were arrested about two weeks after the shooting. Mozingo posted a $100,000 bond April 29. Lofton remains jailed.
Lofton was a student at Wayne Community College. Mozingo was a senior at Southern Wayne High School.
Bowden was arrested a week after the shooting. The former Southern Wayne High School student was eventually released on a $75,000 secured bond.