Daughter recalls bravery of father shot protecting mom

Angus Kelly, 78, died July 9 at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

“I wish my dad were here so he could feel some of the emotions we had,” his daughter, Wanda Wallis, said.

Since his death, Wallis said, she has heard from neighbors about the protective eye her father kept on his family and friends.

“Daddy kind of rode by and checked in on things, you know. He kind of watched,” she said.

Wallis said her father worried about his 75-year-old wife, Grace, working late at the Exxon Short Stop Food Mart in Lakeview. He would wait outside in his Jeep while she closed up shop.

Investigators said Kelly drove up to the parking lot to see three men robbing his wife at gunpoint on June 28. Kelly fired a shotgun through the window, hitting one of the men.

“He was willing to do whatever he could to protect her,” Wallis said.

Gunfire was exchanged, and the Kellys were each shot. The three suspected robbers and a getaway driver fled.

Grace Kelly was treated for a gunshot wound to the arm. Angus suffered more severe injuries and was airlifted to UNC Hospitals, where he died.

“I am just very proud of him and my mom, too,” Wallis said.

Though the experience has been rough for her family, it helps that her father knew that he had protected her mother before he passed away, Wallis said.

“I am so grateful that he had the opportunity to see her and know that she was OK,” Wallis said.

Four men involved face first-degree murder charges stemming from the incident.

Randy Joel Williams, 17, Leroy Richard Medley, 20, Paris Yusef Mack, 17, and Demarcus James Dennison, 18, were also charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and one county each of armed robbery and first-degree kidnapping.