Three sentenced in Caswell County, N.C., storeowner's death

Three Pelham, N.C., men have been sentenced to prison terms for their parts in the murder of a popular local storeowner in January 2008.

Sayad Rawi, 53, owner of the Times Number 3 Convenience Store on U.S. 158 in Caswell County, was shot and killed during a Jan. 17, 2008, robbery. Two suspects in the murder were arrested the same day and a third the following day.

All three of the suspects lived on Mineral Springs Road in Pelham.

Jamiel Simpson, 17, was charged with first-degree murder for the actual murder, as well as robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Joel Brewer, the district attorney for Caswell and Person counties, said Simpson pleaded guilty last week to second-degree murder and the robbery charge. He was sentenced to 20 years and 9 months to 25 years and 9 months without parole.

Turner Blackwell Jr., 19, entered the store with Simpson, while Nicholas King, 22, stayed at the wheel of the getaway car.

Though both Blackwell and King initially claimed to know nothing about the robbery, they both ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and were sentenced this week to 12 to 16 years in prison without parole.

"We really didn't want to plead the cases out, but I thought we got a just result," Brewer said.

Brewer said the suspects were tracked down quickly.

"The case would have been more difficult to solve if not for the fact they committed (it) across the street from a Caswell County Volunteer Fire Department," Brewer said. "One (firefighter) saw them run out of the store and get in the car."

With the vehicle identification and a description of what the suspects were wearing from the observant firefighter, a Yanceyville police officer spotted a black Acura with tinted windows shortly after the incident, just five miles away from the store.

Officer Doug Hemingway pulled the car over, and Blackwell and King were immediately arrested. Simpson was arrested the next day at his home.

"The Caswell County Sheriff's Office, assisted by the Yancyville Police Department, did an excellent job in this case," Brewer said.

Brewer called Rawi's murder a senseless crime, noting that the young men did not have prior criminal histories. He said they all probably knew Rawi, and Rawi almost certainly knew them.

"He was a super fellow; I thought the world of him," Brewer said of Rawi, who was also a popular local artist. "He did a caricature of me and brought candy to the office. He was well-liked by everyone."

Brewer said there are charges pending against another suspect in the incident, Dion McCain, who is accused of disposing of the murder weapon. His trial starts March 10.

Contact Denice Thibodeau at dthibodeau@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7985.