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Second arrest made in last year's shooting of 5-year-old boy

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Posted 3:44PM on Thursday 23rd May 2002 ( 23 years ago )
SAVANNAH - Nearly a year after the drive-by shooting death of a five-year-old boy, Savannah police have made a second arrest in the case. <br> <br> Twenty-three-year-old Eric Brown was arrested yesterday in connection with the Fourth of July slaying of Derek Royal the second. <br> <br> Brown is being held at the Chatham County Detention Center on several charges, including felony murder. <br> <br> Nineteen-year-old John Wesley McMillan was arrested two days after the shooting. He pleaded guilty to felony murder and other charges March 18 and was sentenced to life in prison. <br> <br> Royal, who was visiting Savannah for a family reunion with his father and stepmother, was shot shortly after 11 p-m on July fourth. <br> <br> A group of five people were gathered in the street watching fireworks when two masked men pulled up in a red Chevy Blazer, apparently wanting to rob them. As the family tried to run, the suspects fired at least three shots. <br> <br> One hit Derek&#39;s stepmother, Shannon Royal, in the arm as she tried to protect the little boy. Another bullet hit Derek in the chest. He died later at a Savannah hospital. <br> <br> McMillan, who was on probation from previous charges, cooperated with police and had no weapons when he was arrested. <br> <br> Authorities knew from the start that two men were involved in the shooting. After the nearly yearlong investigation, detectives gathered enough evidence against Brown.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/5/194338

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