Arrest made in year old double murder

Pittsylvania County sheriff’s deputies have arrested a suspect in the May 2007 shooting deaths of at least two men in Ringgold.

Roger Lee Stephens, 26, of 674 Glendale Ave. in Danville, was arrested at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday in Sutherlin by the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Interdiction Team and investigators with the Violent Crime Unit, according to a news release from Sheriff Mike Taylor.

Authorities arrested Stephens on Ringgold Depot Road in Sutherlin near the intersection of U.S 58, Taylor said.

He has been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting into an occupied motor vehicle resulting in the death of 23-year-old Zachary Renar Titus, of Danville, authorities said.

Investigators with a warrant for Stephens’ arrest searched for Stephens on Tuesday night. Once found, Stephens fled on foot from his vehicle, Taylor said. He was apprehended a short distance from his vehicle without further incident, authorities said.

The arrest of Stephens is part of a continuing investigation of a crime that occurred in the early morning hours of May 9, 2007, in the parking lot of Virginia-Carolina Homes in Ringgold. Deputies responded to 4358 South Boston Road in which the caller reported three individuals had been shot, Taylor said.

Upon arrival, deputies found two people dead at the scene, Zachary Renar Titus and Kenny Junior Collins, and two people that had been wounded, April Lynn Wooten and La’tovia O’Bryan Johnson, the sheriff said.

Prior reports from the sheriff’s office indicate Mark Hopkinson Jr., 24, was shot and killed at the scene. It is unclear if Collins is a third victim.

Marcus Jay Davis, 23, of 625 Berryman Ave., also is charged in the shooting deaths and is being held in a mental health facility until a counselor can explain how court proceedings work and he is able to stand trial, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Haskins said in March.

Davis is accused of being the one who arranged the drug deal between the victims and the men accused of shooting them.

J’Raad Amajh Simpson, 25, of Milton, N.C., also has been charged with two counts of murder in the May 9 shooting deaths. In addition, he has been charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Stephens’ first court appearance is scheduled for Friday in Pittsylvania County General District Court. He is being held in the Danville City Jail without bond.
Investigators with the sheriff’s office and attorneys from the Pittsylvania County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office are still investigating the case.

Additional indictments are likely, Taylor said.