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Monday, July 20, 2009
News Serious crimes in Gaffney
Posted By Cheris Hodges on Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 8:59 AM
On the heels of a thrill killer stalking small town Gaffney, S.C., another horrific crime ended in the South Carolina town known for it's peaches and outlet shopping.
According to the Charlotte Observer, a Gaston County family was abducted from a popular watering hole in Belmont then were taken to Gaffney by a convicted killer, 52-year-old Jerry Douglas Case.
Police say Case pulled over at the Kangaroo gas station and convenience store on Saturday for gasoline and baby diapers. The family was able to start the car and drive away.Ten miles down the road, they stopped to call police and report the crime. Authorities said that Cherokee County deputies went to the gas station and chased Case into a swampy area, where they exchanged gunfire, hitting him several times. Case was airlifted to the medical center.
So, why are criminals heading to the small town to terrorize it's citizens? It could be the fact that Gaffney is right off the interstate and it gives criminals a chance to make a quick getaway. Or it could be that criminals think that small town justice officials can't catch them.
But recent history should tell them that small town lawmen don't play.
Patrick Tracy Burris, the serial killer who terrorized a South Carolina community by shooting five people to death before police killed him Monday was a career criminal paroled just two months ago, authorities said.
Burris, 41, was shot to death by officers investigating a burglary complaint at a home in Gastonia, N.C., 30 miles from where the killing spree started June 27. Bullets in his gun matched those that killed residents in and around Gaffney over six days last week, said State Law Enforcement Division Chief Reggie Lloyd.
These crimes probably make it harder for people in small towns to trust strangers who come into town, which takes the charm off a small town. Small town people usually welcome with open arms and show them southern hospitality. However, with the recent crimes in Gaffney, it's highly unlikely that the citizens are going to be so warm and welcoming.
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