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Posted: January 11, 2007

Tow-Truck Driver Dies After New Year's Day Shooting

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Rocky Mount, N.C. — A tow-truck driver who was shot on New Year's Day while trying to move an illegally parked vehicle died Wednesday, officials said.

William Corbett, 25, was shot when he tried to tow a car parked outside a business across from a nightclub on North Church Street in Rocky Mount, police said. Witnesses said a large group of people left the club at about the same time Corbett was hooking the illegally parked car to his wrecker, and they surrounded him.

One man in the crowd pulled a gun, shot Corbett in the chest and fled, police said.

James Taylor Jr., 24, of 717 Starling Way in Rocky Mount, surrendered to police last week and was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, police said.

There was no word on whether charges would be upgraded in the wake of Corbett's death.
Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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16 Comments


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All of this is inexcusible, the owners of the company he was contracted by should reflect long and hard on thier inaction.I think the family should really consider filing a suit against the property owners for negligence. This whole issue could have been avoided had the proper, RESPONSIBLE action been taken in the first place by the owners. The shooter should also reflect on the life he took. Now we have 2 lives lost.
ONCEACROOK
January 11, 2007 4:29 p.m.
I agree with Tdaniels too. If I amnot mistaken, when this first came out it said that it wasnot the shooters car. So why he did what he did is amazing. Even if it was his car he had no right to do it. These guys are providing a service and they are just like cops,emts,paramedics,firefighters and fire police they have no idea if they are going to make it home each night/day. They can only pray that they do. NOT ALL TOW TRUCK DRIVERS DO THE THINGS WE HEAR ABOUT ON TV.. You know, just tow a car because you feel like it. Most of them are trying to provide for their family and be legal.
Click to view my profile diwanicki
January 11, 2007 3:58 p.m.
A man dead and lives destroyed over a car being towed. This world is getting scarier by the minute
Click to view my profile nisa-pizza
January 11, 2007 3:54 p.m.
The young man was just doing a job and got killed, by someone that should have been minding his on business. The guys are the tow truck have a dangeous job please be careful when going by a wreck. We should appreciate the dangerous job the tow trucks guy, EMT & FIREMAN DO.THEY ARE NOT PAID WHAT THEY ARE WORTH.
Click to view my profile BEACH
January 11, 2007 2:40 p.m.
I think it was a hate crime and should be treated as such with the death Penalty! I agree with tdaniels, we have to start being thougher on these crimes or they will just get worse.
tobylamm
January 11, 2007 2:36 p.m.
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