Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2022 UCW 9 A Fayetteville man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole in the 2017 stabbing death of a retired teacher and Army veteran. Jameel Malik Davidson was convicted Friday of first-degree murder in the death of Gerald "Jerry'' Gillespie, the Cumberland County District Attorney's Office said. He was sentenced by Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons. Gillespie, 86, was found dead in his apartment off Owen Drive on Jan. 18, 2017. Senior Assistant District Attorneys Rob ompson and Robby Hicks prosecuted the case. Davidson is appealing the conviction. is was the second time the case had been tried. A trial last year ended in a hung jury, Hicks said. Hicks said Davidson lived in the apartment below Gillespie's. He said testimony at the trial showed that while law enforcement officers were on the scene investi- gating, Davidson told someone the man in the apart- ment had been stabbed. "He knew that before it had been released pub- licly,'' Hicks said. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Da- vidson's apartment. During the search, Gillespie's blood was found on shoes belonging to Davidson, Hicks said. Davidson was arrested a few days later in Florida. Davidson was represented by Bernard Condlin. Gillespie was an Army veteran who retired as a master sergeant. He served multiple tours in Viet- nam and served with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), his daughter-in-law Pamela Gillespie said. After retiring from the Army, Gillespie became a math and science teacher. He taught at Dunn Middle School and at Overhills Middle School, she said. Gillespie was born in the Philippines. His mother was Filipino and his father was an American soldier. His father returned to the United States. During that time, Gillespie's mother became ill. He lived in orphanages and on the street until a doctor took him in and helped get him to the United States, Pamela Gillespie said. His father died soon after Gerald Gillespie came to the United States, she said. "He came here with absolutely nothing,'' Pamela Gillespie said. A family member found Gillespie in his apartment after he failed to show up at their business, Flow & Grow Hydroponic Garden. "He came to our business every day like clock- work,'' Pamela Gillespie said. "at's how we knew something was wrong.'' She said her father-in-law also frequented K&W Cafeteria, where he would eat with friends nearly every day. "He was phenomenal,'' she said. 82nd Airborne Division's All American Week postoned by MICHAEL FUTCH, CityView Today e 82nd Airborne Division has announced that its All American Week is being postponed until late September due to the deployment of thousands of post-based troops to Europe to support the nation's allies and to deter further Russian aggression. is year's All American Week had been scheduled for May 23 to 26. It will now be held Sept. 26 to 29, according to a release. "All American Week is one of the proudest tradi- tions of this division," Commanding General Maj. Gen. Chris LaNeve said in the release. "For this reason, we are postponing to ensure that everyone can be together for this exciting week of activities, camaraderie and reflection on the sacrifices of our paratroopers and contributions of this great division to the nation." e headquarters of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and elements of the division's combat aviation brigade, sustainment bri- gade and others deployed to Poland in February. Since February, when the invasion started, 4,700 service members of the 82nd Airborne Division and key enablers deployed to Germany. e 82nd Air- borne Division deployed components of an infantry brigade combat team and key enablers to Poland. e 18th Airborne Corps moved a Joint Task Force- capable headquarters to Germany, according to Master Sgt. Brian Rodan, a spokesman for the 82nd Airborne Division. Overall, Fort Bragg has roughly 50,000 troops and another 14,000 civilians who work on the post. "Every year, thousands attend All American Week to include the nearly 19,000 paratroopers participat- ing in the week's events," Rodan said Wednesday, May 4. All American Week, which is open to the public, celebrates veterans and honors active-duty service members. Activities include sports competitions, ceremonies and memorials recognizing those service members who lost their lives serving their country. "e run is the biggest and most popular event," Rodan said, "and it officially kicks off the All Ameri- can Week events." In 2020, All American Week was canceled due to COVID-19. In 2021, All American Week was post- poned due to COVID and then re-established as All American Days in November due to the 82nd Airborne Division answering the nation's call as the immediate response force in Europe. Asked whether the September date could change if Fort Bragg soldiers remain deployed at that time, Rodan said he could not speak of the ongoing opera- tions. He said they are hoping All American Week can take place in September. "Since its inception, All American Week has brought our veterans and the Fort Bragg community together building the esprit-de-corps and celebrat- ing almost 105 years of the 82nd Airborne Division's service to the nation," the release said. e event provides an opportunity for the divi- sion's paratroopers, past and present and their families to come together for camaraderie and to cel- ebrate serving in the All American Division, Rodan said. In the past, All American Week has consisted of a variety of events including the division run, boxing, baseball, softball, soccer, Army combatives and an airborne demonstration. Fayetteville police looking for witness in car fatality a STAFF REPORT Fayetteville police are asking the public for help finding a man who investigators believe saw a woman intentionally strike a man with her vehicle. e man later died. Khaleeta George Gethers, 28, has been charged with murder in the death of 20-year-old Jarod Perry. Perry was seriously injured April 24 when he was struck by a vehicle on the 3500 block of Boone Trail, police said. He was taken to the hospital and later died. Detectives have information the witness was walk- ing in front of Perry when he was struck, the Police Department said in a release. e witness ran to the front porch of a residence along the 3500 block of Boone Trail and left before police arrived, police said. "Detectives are requesting the public's assistance locating this witness as it is imperative he be inter- viewed,'' the department said in a release. e man was described as tall with a slim build and short black or brown hair. He was wearing brown work pants, the release said. Anyone who knows the man is asked to contact Detective T. Kiger at 910-705-6527 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477). Fayetteville man convicted in death of retired teacher, Army veteran by LORRY WILLIAMS, CityView Today NEWS DIGEST Gerald 'Jerry' Gillespie retired from the Army as a master sergeant. He then became an educator, teaching math and science. From left, Pamela Gillespie's oldest son, Elliot Chavis; Mr. Jerry, her youngest son, Kyle Chavis; and her husband Andrew Gillespie, who is Mr. Jerry's son. (Contributed photo)