Hit and run murder suspect turns himself in
Published: October 12, 2008
Updated: October 15, 2008
Updated 6:08 p.m.
Salem Police tell us Scott surrendered at a local hospital, after being treated for minor injuries.
Officers took Scott into custody around 3:50 p.m., and then taken to the Roanoke County/Salem Jail. Scott is being held without bond.
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1:15 p.m.
The young man wanted in connection with a hit and run murder in Salem early Saturday morning, October 11th, has turned himself in to police.
Defense attorney Deborah Caldwell-Bono says Shaun Scott turned himself in Sunday morning. Caldwell-Bono is representing Scott.
Caldwell-Bono tells WSLS that Scott’s side of the story will show what happened was a “terrible accident.“
Salem Police say Scott got in a Jeep, and sped through the crowded parking lot of the Awful Arthur’s on West Main Street, around 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning. A Salem officer says he saw the Jeep hit and kill 23-year-old Zane Blakenship.
Scott faces charges of:
- 1 count first degree murder
- 2 counts attempted malicious wounding
- 4 counts felony hit and run
- 1 count felony property damage
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I,ve Known Shaun for a long time and he is anything but a murderer. Being in a situation in which you are being beat up by a group of people and the only option you have is to get in your car and get away from them thats what your going to do, I don’t care who you are. And being charged with murder is wrong, murder is a premeditated act of violence. This was on instent to get away from people that were trying and starting a fight. Anyone in his situation would have done the same, he was being attacked by more than one person ( also called banked ). See its also funny how the brother in one statement said he saw the car hit Zane and gave him mouth to mouth and in the other statement he said he got a phone call somebody better get to the bottom of that sounds like somebody is telling some lies who could it be.
phdry you can’t be serious… or maybe you are just not very smart… lets look at the facts… (first let me tell you that I know Zane, Coby, and Shaun)a disagreement breaks out and shaun gets scared and decides he is going to run (or “disengage himself”) so he gets into his jeep and he decides he is going to exit the parking lot… so now remind you per your comment shaun is a “bright, college educated” young man well in college they don’t teach common sense but being a grown man I would think that he had just a little bit… his jeep is at the opposite end of the parking lot and there is an exit behind sheetz that is closer and has no one standing or waiting for him in the path… but instead the “bright, college educated” young man decides to build up to 40 mph and come down the one exit that has people exiting the bar and hit 2 people one of which is dead today… and lets see how about that game of chicken… how about you and Shaun stand still and let a vehicle moving 40 mph come toward you and at the last second turn around… please tell me how well you do at this excercise… becaues i am sure that no one would play chiken vehicle vs. human. and now lets add this into the equation so Shaun is scared and he hits Zane and Coby and now he is exiting the parking lot and hits one of Salem’s finest… hmmm the police are there to help now and obviously Zane can’t grab him from the vehicle because he has been hit by a car driven by a “gentle, kind” young man… so now you hit a person… well two persons and now you have hit a cop… what do you do… you drive over a curb and run away… then you ditch your vehicle and hideout from police… hmmm why run if your innocent… as for the words you posted about Zane and his brother as long as others… Zane was a good kid, son, friend, brother, 23 years old he had his whole life ahead of him and it was snatched away… Zane liked to have a good time and did not bother people unless people bothered him… he was trying to keep the peace and that is the stor that everyone not only his friends have told… Coby is not a bad person either… as I still remember when it was me in an altercation and not knowing or having anyone on my side it was Coby that stepped in and helped me out and made sure that the situation didnt evolve… furthermore who are you to pass judgement? and by the way I believe you are right about the gun charges… but I was just wondering lets put all the charges that Coby has against the Murder 1 that Shaun has and you let the people judge who is the “troublemaker and bully”. I think that I will close on this note; In your comment you stated taht he Shaun is a “gentle, kind, helpful, bright, college educated, and mild mannered” young man. Tell me how “gentle” is 2000lbs of steel moving at 40mph. Tell me how “kind” is it to run a human being over like they are nothing. Tell me how “helpful” Shaun is to all the grieving family and friends today. Tell me how “college educated” kills, hits a cop, and runs from the police. Last but not least tell me what good manners are going to do the boy in prision? Maybe phdry you are confused because you used a lot of adjetives to describe Shaun except for the right one and that is MURDERER. Hate to tell you money can’t get you out of this one buddy… have fun in prision… R.I.P. Zane… Coby I’m praying for you man…
“Only the good die young”
I do not know if Shaun’s wrongdoing was intentional but the way I see it, it seems he intent to do so as I agree with Ashley above in the comment. We are the cousins with Zane and I have hung out with Zane from time to time as he is my family. He is a gentleman and he is the good one. He have this niece who adore him. It is his brother who is the “troublemaker” so please do not label Zane like this. Zane is trying to make peace out there on the parking lot. However, police officer also witnessed the incident. If Shaun did not intent to do this, he would have not glazed other person and hit the police cruiser then run over the grassy curb to get on the Main St. and he should stayed at the crime scene instead of fleeing. End of this, Zane is a GOOD guy. He is family person and hard working man. Not once in my heartbeat, I even thought he is trouble person. Everyone have their different opinions but I will not allow anyone label Zane as bad person.
if shaun is one of the finest young men you know you would think he would of stopped after he hit zane. And for you(phdry) to sit there and talk about zane who you never have met. He was a great guy and you should not judge him from what you have heard from sources that obviously dont know what they are talking about. have alittle respect
Awful Arthur’s has 3 exits from its parking lot if he just wanted to remove himself from the situation he could have used one of the other exits
Are you kidding me phdry. Zane was a victim in a horric crime. It was no accident. What you have heard about Zane is false . He was a wonderful guy and the world is truly worse off for losing him. As for weather or not his brother has been in trouble in the past has nothing to do with him. Your right the witnesses do have a different take on what happened shaun was not just pulling out of a parking space.Shaun was driving to fast for Zane to get out of the way. You need to remember Zane was a human being that was murdered and he has a family that doesnt need comments such as yours at there time of tragedy.
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