Bound, Gagged Man Shot; 2 Charged

Police have charged two men with the shooting death of a 21-year-old man Sunday night they had bound with duct tape.

Police said 21-year-old Jervey Crockett was found dead in the front yard of an abandoned house on Red Robin Drive Sunday night. They said he his legs and arms were bound and had duct tape on his mouth.

Detectives in the neighborhood the next day investigating the homicide spotted a red Cadillac that a witness had seen leaving the scene and began a pursuit.

Kevin Rushing, 22, was apprehended after the car crashed on Old Middleburg Road near Normandy Boulevard. Police said Christopher Holmes, 21, took off on foot through Memorial Park Cemetery, but turned himself in on Tuesday.

While both were initially held on charges resulting from the pursuit, police said a witness positively identified them as the men leaving the scene of the slaying and detectives found the gun used in the crime in the car, along with duct tape and some of the victim's property.

Rushing and Holmes had both recently been released from prison for violent crimes they committed when they were 16. Police said the two met Crocket in prison and witnesses said they all arrived at the house together.

Detectives also learned there had been cell phone calls between Holmes and Crocket prior to the shooting.

"It looks like (the motive) is going to be robbery," Lt. Larry Schmit said. "Whether it was for drugs or money, we haven't determined yet."

Schmit said it appeared that Crocket had been bound inside the home and was able to free himself enough to make it outside, where he was shot.