Deputy's assailant had prior criminal charges
By Staff Reports
Published in News on July 30, 2010 1:46 PM
SNOW HILL -- A Greene County deputy who was shot to death Wednesday evening near the Wayne County line had just returned to work with the Greene Sheriff's Office a little over a year ago.
Jon Willis, 31, died after being struck twice by bullets from a handgun wielded by Daniel Myers. Myers then killed himself.
Willis had been dispatched to a domestic disturbance call at the Brook Meadow mobile home park near the Shine's Crossroads community about 7:30 p.m. Published reports indicate Myers had been drinking and arguing with his sister and that his mother, Sonya Pacheco, placed the call to authorities.
When Willis arrived, Myers emerged from a bedroom and shot him through a doorway, then apparently walked back to the bedroom and turned the gun on himself, Sheriff Lemmie Smith said.
Willis joined the Greene County Sheriff's Office in 2001 but left to work for the Winterville Police Department in 2007 before returning.
Willis, who was separated from his wife, leaves behind two children, ages 12 and 3.
Myers had been in trouble with the law before. He was on probation for assault inflicting serious injury, communicating threats and resisting arrest.
Initial reports described the community as a quiet one, but neighbors said lawmen have been called out to the area many times to quell disturbances or respond to emergency calls.
Flags flew at half-staff at the Greene County Courthouse on Thursday.
No funeral arrangements for Willis have been made public but a memorial service is being planned, Smith said.