Death penalty sought in Graham double shooting


By Isaac Groves
The Times News

GRAHAM — The Alamance County District Attorney’s Office announced this week in Superior Court it intends to seek the death penalty for the November double murder of two men on Payne Road.

Justin Lynn Ramirez, 31, of Haw River faces two first-degree murder charges, among others, in the killings Nov. 11 of Jerry Darrell Williamson and Steven Bryant Somers.

Deputies were called to 2092 Payne Road in Graham about 10:20 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11. They found Williamson dead in a field 50 to 60 yards from his home. Deputies searched two buildings on the same property, and found Somers also dead.

A high-powered rifle taken from Ramirez when he was arrested later in Asheboro, driving Williamson’s truck, is the suspected murder weapon.

Investigators learned that Somers and Ramirez were shooting a rifle near Williamson’s home earlier in the day, Johnson said. Williamson went out and told the two to stop shooting because it was scaring his dogs, before he went back in the house.

Later, Williamson went back to the spot where Ramirez and Somers had been shooting and did not return. A family member went looking for Williamson, which started the investigation. Both victims were found dead on the property with gunshot wounds to their heads, and Williamson’s truck was missing.

According to Johnson, Somers was Williamson’s grandson, and he and Ramirez, who were friends, lived in a home together on Williamson’s property.

District Attorney Sean Boone said his office is required to announce early in the process whether it intends to proceed capitally.

https://www.thetimesnews.com/news/20...ouble-shooting