One of the reasons I made a decision to learn all I could about self defense and fight to legalize concealed carry was the murder of my good friend and Trap Doubles league team mate Gary "Casey" Jones.
Rest in peace old buddy
Two men arrested for murder at gun shop By
Michelle StarrStaff writer Published: Friday, February 25, 2000
Updated: Saturday, November 29, 2008 03:11
The family of Gary "Casey" Jones might sleep a little easier knowing two men were arrested Wednesday in connection with Jones' murder.
Jones, 51, of Ceresco, was shot and killed at Acher Arms, 1334 S. 33rd St., Jan. 28 during a robbery.
Jones was a reputable gun salesman with about 27 years in the business, said his former employer, Davis Mosby of Lincoln. Davis owned the now-defunct Gun Rack, where Jones worked for 25 years before his employment at Acher Arms.
Lincoln Police, with the help of a Crimestoppers tip, arrested Nathan Pendell and Monte Siddens shortly before 4 p.m. in connection with Jones' death. Both suspects are 21 and live at 1132 N. 55th St.
Lincoln Police Chief Tom Casady would not say when the Crimestoppers tip was received or what information was included in the tip.
Jones' widow, Carolyn, said she was relieved that the police had made an arrest, and she thought it might help with the healing process.
"All I can say is (Casey) was a good guy," Carolyn Jones said.
"The wheels of justice are turning," she said. "Justice is being served if they caught the men that did it."
The arrests were made without incident, Casady said.
Lancaster County Attorney Gary Lacy said he will file charges against the two men today. Bond was set at $1 million cash for each man, court documents said.
According to documents submitted in county court Thursday, Siddens confessed during questioning Wednesday that he shot Jones during an exchange of gunfire between he and Jones.
Based on the investigation, the two men allegedly planned a robbery at the store, which resulted in the death of Jones and two bullet wounds to Siddens, Casady said.
A gun that was stolen from the store and used in the murder was found in the suspects' possession during their arrests. But Casady would not say where police found the weapon. Court documents said that in Pendell's testimony to police, Siddens allegedly told Pendell that he had gotten rid of the gun.
According to information gathered during the investigation, Siddens entered the gun shop - minutes before the store was to close at 6 p.m. - carrying a loaded magazine that fits into the .22-caliber rifle taken from the store, Casady said.
Siddens allegedly loaded the gun he found in the store and confronted Jones, Casady said. According to court documents, Siddens told police that when he showed the weapon, a gunfight ensued.
Casady said sometime during the confrontation, Jones, who had a .38-caliber special revolver, fired five shots, two of which hit Siddens in his stomach and shoulder. Siddens had fired nine shots, Casady said. According to court documents, Jones was shot several times and died from a gunshot wound to the head. Both bullets wounding Siddens entered and left his body, Casady said.
Neither of Siddens' wounds incapacitated him, and he allegedly left the gun store with the victim on the floor.
Siddens, who had not sought medical attention for the wounds, was still recovering at his home when he was arrested at 3:50 p.m. Wednesday, Casady said.
Jones was found on the floor of the store by Mark Hatten, a customer who was picking up some guns for the annual Black Powder Gun Show at the State Fair Park that weekend. Hatten then called police, and Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. The robbery and shooting are not thought to be related to the weekend gun show, Casady said.
According to the investigation, Pendell was waiting for Siddens outside in a truck, Casady said. Pendell was arrested at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday at Madsen's, 4700 Dudley St. The court documents also stated that during questioning Pendell said when Siddens returned to the truck, he told Pendell he thought he had killed Jones. Pendell then reportedly took Siddens home. The men are thought to originally be from Iowa, and Casady said it was unknown how long the two had been in Lincoln.
They both have criminal records in Nebraska, including Pendell's Jan. 6 arrest for felony possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. He allegedly had 14 grams of methamphetamine, eight empty syringes, eight empty bags, two scales and a black knife at the time of his arrest for attempting to shoplift a pack of cigarettes at Super Saver, 233 N. 48th St., court documents said.
That same day he also was arrested for misdemeanor offenses including possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a concealed weapon and concealing merchandise. Prosecution was declined in the misdemeanor charges. Pendell appeared in court Wednesday on a motion for a court appointed lawyer for the drug charges. The charge is still pending and bond was set at 10 percent of $5,000.
Casady said drugs, particularly meth, were either directly or indirectly involved in the murder, but he had no reason to believe the two were on the drug at the time of the murder. Casady said he also was concerned about the growing popularity of the drug in Lincoln and throughout the state, especially because of its involvement in serious crimes.
Siddens was arrested and found guilty of a misdemeanor charge for concealing merchandise on Jan. 6. According to court records, he was fined in county court for $100.
Though arrests for the murder have been made, the investigation is on-going, Casady said. The two suspects remain in Lancaster County jail. Casady credited Lincoln Police detective's hard work and the Crimestoppers tip for the arrests.
"I can tell you, until we got the information (from Crimestoppers), they weren't suspects," he said. The two arrests came a day before a press conference for a task force research into substance abuse treatment. The task force concluded that in improving the substance abuse treatment for prisoners, people on probation and on parole would benefit the community, and in turn reduce the number of repeat offenders, said Kathy Seacrest of the task force Thursday morning.
Though Casady was not knowledgeable about the task force and its findings he did think it sounded positive. "I'm all in favor of more treatment," he said.
