Man pleads guilty in fatal shootingPayton, 18, to serve 30 years in prison for murder; co-defendant to be sentenced today By Schuyler Kropf (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Payton 
Turnmeyer 
Coburn SUMMERVILLE — An 18-year-old man accused of killing a woman in the King's Grant Golf Course parking lot pleaded guilty to murder Wednesday, shortly before he was to go on trial at the Dorchester County Courthouse. Vincent C. Payton potentially faced up to life behind bars. Circuit Judge Paul Burch sentenced him to 30 years. Payton was present at the November 2006 shooting death of Lisa Thompson, 25. Authorities don't consider him the shooter, but he was sentenced under the legal premise that the "hand of one is the hand of all" in cases with multiple defendants. Authorities contend Payton and co-defendant Jonathan G. Coburn, 18, planned to rob Melvin Keith Bryant during a meeting in the golf course parking lot. Their first attempt on a Saturday night did not go forward because Bryant did not show, 1st Circuit Assistant Solicitor Blair Jennings said. The second attempt came on the ensuing Sunday. The robbery fell apart when gunfire started. Bryant was hit in the face and survived. Thompson, who was in the SUV with Bryant, was killed with a .22-caliber handgun. Police solved the crime because workers at the course clubhouse had written down the license plate of a suspicious vehicle that had dropped the two men off, Jennings said. Payton, of Summerville, shed tears at the courthouse in St. George as he asked for leniency. "I'm just sorry, your honor," he said. Burch sentenced Payton to 30 years for murder and 20 years for assault and battery with intent to kill for Bryant's wounding. The terms will run concurrently. Coburn will be sentenced today after he pleaded guilty earlier to the same charges, Jennings said. Thompson's mother, Gloria Johnson, said she was satisfied with the outcome. "It doesn't bring her back, but at least it gives them time to think about what they did," she said. A third defendant, Matthew Shane Turnmeyer of Ladson, who was 17 at the time of his arrest two years ago, drove the car on the first night but was not present for the Sunday incident, Jennings said. He was sentenced to five years in prison, which was suspended to 2 1/2 years of probation, after pleading guilty to misprision of a felony, which covers withholding information from police. Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551 or skropf@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 11 comment(s)
Posted by ColdBeer on July 17, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Take a life and get 30 years... insane. Our system needs to be revamped. The death penalty should be available for all three of these. Even Turnmeyer, who drove them to the scene the first night, knowing they were going to commit armed robbery.
How many more innocent people have to die?
Posted by BigSargeofSC on July 17, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bring back public hangings! We have our first three volunteers.
Posted by nikkiP on July 17, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How can you look someone in the eyes, shoot them in the face, and kill someone? And then just shed a few tears and say "i'm sorry." like it really means anything. I'm sure he is sorry, but that doesn't change the fact that this woman is dead.
Put them in dresses and lipstick and throw them into the prison yard!
Posted by seekingadonai on July 17, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Public hangings...dresses and lipstick...what complete ignorance. I can't even begin to imagine what the victim's family must be going through, and in no way do I condone the actions of these three individuals. But I ask of those who would make such comments if they would respond the same way if one of these three young men was their son. The entire situation is tragic to me.
Posted by katrenavantassle on July 17, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I actually knew Lisa Thompson. She was too young to die.
My condolences to her family for this tramatic incident they had to go thru and now maybe the can get some peace.
Posted by 4mygirls on July 17, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To bad the drug dealer didn't get killed instead of his accomplice.
Posted by rockytopron on July 17, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
by looking at the defendents, prison time will be worse than the death penalty if you know what I mean..
Posted by nikkiP on July 17, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Um, if it was my son I doubt they'd be doing things like this. And the law is the law. If my child commits cold blooded murder, then they will deal with whatever punishment is dealt to them.
Posted by lucy_fan on July 17, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
seeking- complete ignorance? Please spare me.
I have to agree with nikkiP. I feel for all of the families involved. But you commit a crime, you need to deal with the punishment. This is not ignorance. These are our opinions. And my opinion is if you commit a crime, you should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. And like nikki said, my children wouldn't act like that. That poor girl didn't deserve to die. That other boy didn't deserve to be shot in the face. These punks planned this. They knew what they were doing. They don't need to be back out on the streets to do this again.
Posted by oh_whatever on July 17, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You’re completely correct everyone is entitled to their own opinions but, you can't say what your child wouldn't or would do because you’re not your child. It doesn't matter how you raise a child that child still has to make their own decisions (hopefully it’s the correct decision). I'm pretty sure neither one of the defendants' parents knew they were going to be involved in a tragic crime as this.
Yes I agree they should be punished but, lipstick/dresses and hanging is completely unnecessary.
Neither one of the people, from the defendants to the victims, involved seem to be completely innocent with the fact that drugs and guns were involved in the incident.
So if nikkip could read the article clearly states "Payton was present at the November 2006 shooting...Authorities don't consider him the shooter” so he has every right to apologize! Get your facts correct.
Posted by concerned_in_sc on July 18, 2008 at 6:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First and foremost, I don't believe these kids planned on killing anyone. I do believe that their actions were wrong and they should be punished, but do none of you have a heart? Think about the families of some of these people. I for one personally know the mother of one of these defendants and she is the most awesome Christian woman, and for those of you who say my kid would not do this, grow up!! You never know what your children will do if they are just a little bit provoked by someone on the wrong path.
I believe that this was a horrible act and that the young woman did not deserve to die, but we all know that we've done stupid things in our past when we were kids (which is what these guys were when the act happened). The majority of us did not take it to the extent that these kids did, but they do deserve to say I'm sorry. They should have to do their time, but we shouldn't want them to be hurt by hangings or putting them in dresses. If I'm right, I do believe that God has told us not to judge. Who are we to judge these kids? No one!!! We should instead be praying that these boys have learned a really hard lesson and take the time that they are in prison to not be abused but to be saved and learn how to trust in the Lord.
If we would all just learn how to pray a little bit harder for people like this instead of bashing them, then I think this world would be such a better place. Have a heart!!!