Men who gunned down beloved sandwich shop owner for $100 tied to double murder of man and woman weeks later: Prosecutors

Two North Carolina, men accused of robbing and sidesplitting a beloved sandwich store proprietor successful Charlotte have been tied to a abstracted execution case.

Terry Connor Jr. and Steven Staples person some been charged with murder successful the decease of 61-year-old Scott Brooks.

The defendants — believed to beryllium ages 35 and 37, respectively — appeared successful tribunal for their proceedings this week, wherever the implicit acceptable of allegations against them yet came to light.

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On Dec. 19, 2019, Brooks was arriving astatine the edifice that helium co-owned, Brooks Sandwich House, erstwhile 2 men wearing hooded sweatshirts approached him with guns drawn. The men took astir $100 from his wallet, and surveillance footage showed him speaking with the 2 suspects, according to local Fox affiliate WGHP.

Brooks pulled retired his ain limb and fired astatine the men, who returned occurrence and killed him, according to authorities. The defendants are believed to person targeted the sandwich store due to the fact that the concern lone dealt with cash.

Connor and Staples are alleged to person been the 2 men. And arsenic they appeared successful tribunal this week, prosecutors attempted to necktie them to a treble execution that happened conscionable weeks aft Brooks was killed.

On Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, Siojvon Joseph and Asa Shannon — some 35 — were recovered dormant from gunshot wounds successful a conveyance down an embankment successful Charlotte. Staples and Connor's brother, Everette Connor, are believed to person killed them.

Prosecutors made a constituent of bringing up this lawsuit during the proceedings this week successful an effort to showcase a spree of unit enacted by Staples and the Connor siblings.

Police officers searched a location adjacent the country of Joseph's and Shannon's deaths and recovered it ransacked, with hidden cellphones, weapons, and nutrient strewn throughout, grounds that authorities person tried to usage to necktie the men to some cases, according to section ABC affiliate WSOC.

Both Terry Connor and Staples person pleaded not blameworthy to murdering Brooks.

Prosecutors are expected to remainder their lawsuit adjacent week.

The lawsuit involving the deaths of Joseph and Shannon is inactive pending.

Brooks is remembered in his obituary arsenic having made friends easily.

"Many of the friends helium made were customers helium had met on the mode astatine Brooks' Sandwich House which helium co-owns with his member Dave, established by his begetter CT successful 1973," the remembrance reads. "Our household volition cherish the stories and memories often conveyed successful speech with Scott astir the divers radical helium encountered astatine the shop."