Opinion ID: 1463584
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Murder of Eric Clemons

Text: Payne's position as Thomas's lieutenant had lasted until sometime in 1996 ( see Tr. 1322), when Thomas's friend Eric Sui Clemons returned from prison and sought to join the drug distribution operation ( see id. at 1324). Thomas was dissatisfied with Payne's work as a lieutenant because the sellers would run out of drugs to sell and Payne was lax about replenishing their supplies. Accordingly, in 1996, Thomas replaced Payne in that position with Clemons. ( See id. ) Thomas testified that Payne stayed around, however, available to help if we needed him for something or if something happened. ( Id. at 1325; see also id. at 1172 (members of the family protected each other, meaning that if [s]omebody d[id] something to one of us, the rest of us would go looking for the person and do something to him to retaliate); id. at 1326-28 (Payne's services to Thomas's drug distribution operation after Payne was fired as Thomas's lieutenant were sufficiently valuable that Hunter, after becoming Thomas's partner in that operation, tried unsuccessfully to persuade Thomas that the partnership's profits should be split three ways, to include Payne).) Payne was upset at being replaced as Thomas's lieutenant (Tr. 704, 1325); Payne also believed that Clemons was a snitch because Clemons had gone to jail at the same time as his codefendants, and only Clemons had been released ( see id. at 1325). Hunter, who was released from prison in 1996 after Clemons had succeeded Payne, also believed demons was a snitch and expressed that view to Thomas ( see id. at 1328). In early 1997, Thomas realized that someone was stealing cocaine from his operation; he at first suspected Billy Lopez, who sold for Thomas and in whose Hegeman Avenue home Thomas stashed cocaine until it could be individually packaged and distributed. Thereafter, however, noticing that demons was spending money lavishly, Thomas realized that it was Clemons who was stealing from him. Also in 1997, Thomas became aware that his girlfriend was having an affair with Clemons. To punish Clemons for showing such disrespect for him, Thomas shot Clemons in the leg. Thomas described these events to Payne and Hunter, who reiterated their belief that Clemons was also a snitch. ( See Tr. 1338-39.) Thomas testified that Payne advised him that, for disrespecting him, Clemons should be killed. Thomas agreed and he, Hunter, and Payne promptly armed themselves and prepared to kill Clemons. ( See id. at 1340-41.) Thomas telephoned Lisa Toney, the woman with whom Clemons had been staying after returning from prison. Thomas told her that Clemons had been stealing from him and was sleeping with Thomas's girlfriend; he also disclosed that Clemons had yet another girlfriend as well. Thomas asked Toney to let him know when she learned Clemons's whereabouts. Toney soon informed Thomas that Clemons would shortly be arriving at her home by taxi. Hunter then drove Thomas and Payne to Toney's address in time to intercept Clemons. As Clemons attempted to exit the cab, Thomas approached from one side and Payne approached from the other. ( See Tr. 1346-47.) Payne lean[ed] into the car and shot Clemons [a]t least six or seven times ( id. at 1347-48); Clemons died from his wounds ( see id. at 1358). Thomas and Payne fled in the car driven by Hunter. ( See id. at 1349.) Hatcher was in prison at the time of the Clemons murder, but Hunter informed him of it. When Hatcher was released in June 1998, Hunter and Payne picked him up, and Hunter introduced Payne as the [n]ew shooter in the family ( id. at 704). Hatcher and Payne thereafter had several discussions about the details of the murder. Hatcher testified that Payne said he was glad [w]hen `Boo' gave the order for [Clemons] to be killed, because Payne had never liked Clemons and had been upset when Thomas gave Clemons Payne's job as lieutenant. ( Id. )