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Man denied bond in pizza store owner's shooting death

A Raleigh man accused of shooting and killing a pizza store owner was denied bond Monday during his first court appearance on a first-degree murder charge.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — A Raleigh man accused of shooting and killing a pizza store owner was denied bond Monday during his first court appearance on a first-degree murder charge.

William Damieon Edwards, 43, of 7308 Great Laurel Drive, was arrested Friday in the May 19 shooting death of Jay Waheed Ammeri, at the NY Style Pizza restaurant at 7440 Louisburg Road.

Emotion from both the victim and suspects’ family poured outside the courtroom.

Ammeri’s neice, Sunia Faizy, said her uncle was shot in the heart while his 6-month-old child was in the room.

Raleigh police have said that the two men knew each other but have not elaborated further on their relationship or a motive for the shooting.

Wake County Assistant District Attorney Jeff Cruden opposed a request for bond, saying Edwards has a prior violent felony record.

In August 2005, he was charged with four counts of attempted murder after he fired an assault rifle into a car full of teenagers, injuring a 14-year-old girl. Police said the shooting came after a shouting match over a football game.

Edwards was charged and acquitted of first-degree murder in a 1989 shooting in Greensboro. Charges were dismissed in a 1990 case in which he was arrested for shooting a gun into occupied property.

Several of Edwards’ neighbors said Monday that they are shocked by the latest charge and didn’t know about his past.

They described him as a neighbor and family man who is quick to help others.

Edwards’ sister, Norma Reeves, said the incidents on Edwards’ record were situations where he was defending his family or himself.

“My brother is not a murderer like he is being portrayed,” Reeves said. “He is a good person, and people need to understand that there had to be more than this, so somebody please tell the whole sorry.”

“I am sorry, to the victim’s family,” she added. “My heart breaks for them. I pray for them. I pray for peace and comfort.”

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