NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — It’s been a struggle to seek justice in the shooting death of a convenience store owner in Norfolk after a murder charge was withdrawn for one of the suspects, who pleaded guilty Wednesday to a lesser charge.
Dennis Hisle had been charged with second-degree murder in connection to the death of James Carter, owner of the Triple C Convenience store on Lindenwood Avenue who was shot and killed last December. However, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi withdrew that charge against Hisle, saying the evidence points to a different person who killed Carter.
Last December, Carter, 84, heard loud arguing outside his convenience store, and, when he went outside to find out what was going on, he was shot and killed.
Fatehi, in explaining the dropped charge against Hisle, said it was his brother, Bruce Hisle, rather, who killed Carter. In a plea agreement (see below), Dennis Hisle’s murder charge was dismissed.
“It means that we withdrew them, asked the judge to drop the murder charge and the related charges,” Fatehi said. “We did that because we reached the conclusion that Dennis Hisle did not commit the murder.”
Fatehi said additional information has come forward that indicates it was actually Dennis’ brother, Bruce Hisle, who allegedly shot and killed Carter.
“The new information came to light,” Fatehi said. “That new information showed us that, in fact, Bruce Hisle is the person we believe committed this homicide, and therefore, it would have been unjust to continue to prosecute Dennis for the murder when we believe that Bruce had committed it.”
It also means that Fatehi will have to explain the change to a jury,.
“We will have to own it and talk about the fact that Dennis Hisle was originally charged with murder,” Fatehi said.
Also, as part of Dennis Hisle’s plea agreement, it “does not require the defendant, who is Dennis, to testify at the trial of either of his co-defendants, including his brother Bruce.”
Said Fatehi: “Yes, that is what is says.”
Dennis Hisle will be sentenced March 21 for larceny of a firearm and possession of it by a felon. He remains in custody.
His brother, Bruce Hisle, faces a jury trial March 18 for first-degree murder. A jury trial for Tamika Credle, accused of driving the getaway car, is set for Jan. 8.
Back at the Triple C Convenience store, Carter is never far away and never forgotten. His picture can’t be missed when you walk inside.
“It’s like now I come in here wanting to talk to him, listen to what he has to say,” said his nephew, Fred Yates, “but all I can do is look at his picture.”