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Law enforcement officials investigate a shooting death that occurred at the Second Time Around Thrift Shop early Thursday morning on Warrenton Road, near the new Walmart. |
BY KEITH EPPS
A Stafford man was found dead in his store yesterday, the apparent victim of a homicide.
James LeRose, 66, was discovered in the Second Time Around thrift store at 1183 Warrenton Road at 8:13 a.m., Sheriff's spokesman Bill Kennedy said.
Kennedy said LeRose suffered severe trauma to his upper body, but said the cause of death had not been determined as of last night. But a family member said LeRose had been shot. The body has been sent to the medical examiner's office in Richmond.
The thrift shop is immediately east of the new Walmart on U.S. 17. Police are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious in that area between 5:30 and 8:30 a.m. to call the Sheriff's Office.
The motive for the slaying remained unclear last night. Kennedy said he did not know if anything was missing from the store.
According to police and others, LeRose went to the store about 6 a.m., which is customary for him.
His daughter, Kristina Delano, said her sister calls their father shortly after 7 a.m. every day.
When she got no answer yesterday, she called her mother. The mother, who had been married to LeRose for 48 years, went to the store and found her husband dead.
"My father was a wonderful man," Delano said. "He would do anything for anybody."
Mike Carter, who rents a house next to the shop from LeRose, said that he did not hear a gunshot and became aware of the situation only when he saw the police on the scene.
"I don't understand it," Carter said. "He was a good man."
Carter said that LeRose's car was the only one parked in front of the store when the police arrived.
LeRose, a longtime resident of the Hartwood area, used to own the nearby M&P Market. He opened the thrift store six or seven years ago, his daughter said.
Sheriff Charles Jett vowed that his office will work nonstop to identify LeRose's killer.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Mr. LeRose," Jett said. "Every available resource of the Sheriff's Office is being utilized to determine and bring to justice the person or persons responsible for this cruel and senseless act."
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com
