Headlines

Suspects Arrested in 3 Deaths at Jewelry and Pawn Store

Published

7 years ago

December 21, 2016

INSTORE Staff

The owner and two employees were shot to death.

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of the owner and two employees of Bill’s Pawn Jewelry Coin/Stamp Exchange in Jackson, MS, according to an alert from the Jewelers’ Security Alliance.

Joshua M. Garcia, 37, of Biloxi, MS, and Jamieson L. Townsend, 35, of Blue Springs, MO, were arrested in Johnson City, KS, according to JSA, which cited the Geary County Sheriff’s Office.

JSA reports: “The couple were stopped driving a Dodge Charger with no registration displayed, but drove away. A deputy chased the car to a dead end road, where the car crashed, and the driver ran. The female passenger in the car was arrested, and the male suspect was captured about a mile away, hiding in the back seat of a vehicle.”

On Saturday evening, 81-year-old Cleveland “Bill” Mosley, owner of Bill’s Pawn Jewelry Coin/Stamp Exchange, was found shot to death along with employees Ted McLemore, 77, and Robert Ivy, 60, the Clarion-Ledger reported.

According to the JSA alert, “It is reported that five high-end watches, jewelry and coins were taken from the store. Surveillance equipment was also taken and other equipment damaged.”

JSA reports that Garcia has a long criminal record including armed robbery, burglary, receiving stolen property and grand larceny. Townsend is a former nurse with two children who let her nursing license expire last year, according to the organization.

The Clarion-Ledger reported that authorities in Mississippi also identified Garcia and Townsend as suspects in the burglary of Sam’s Jewelry in Pascagoula, MS.

Read more at the Clarion-Ledger.

Related Topics: burglary crime murder robbery

click to Comment(Comment)

Up Next

Diamonds Don’t Have to Mean What You Think They Mean

Don't Miss

Trump Presidency Likely to Boost Diamond Sales, De Beers CEO Says

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”