This week’s top stories from the Ledger-Enquirer
1. Police, firefighters shocked to discover shooting victim is autistic friend: As an employee at the Piggly Wiggly on River Road, Deonn Carter developed a special bond with firefighters and officers. Carter, a 31-year-old man with autism, was shot Tuesday. When emergency service personnel responded to the 911 call, they were shocked to learn that the victim was a friend, and they responded as if he was one of their own.
2. Man wanted in mother’s slaying found dead: A 28-year-old man authorities linked to Tuesday’s slaying of his 58-year-old mother at a Phenix City apartment was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound hours later, according to a news release. Authorities said Arthur Lester Nelson Jr. was wanted on a murder warrant related to Victoria Nelson’s death when Henry County police found his body in her red Cadillac.
3. Auburn’s Lashlee cautions against high expectations for John Franklin III: Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee didn’t exactly sound optimistic during a recent news conference about John Franklin III’s chances of winning the starting job. The coaching staff maintained the three-way battle between Sean White, Jeremy Johnson and John Franklin III was fairly even coming out of spring camp.
4. Restaurateur Mark Jones secures prime downtown spot: Columbus restaurateur Mark Jones is not ready to say what his new restaurant will be, but he confirmed he has gained control of one of the prime downtown dining spots. Jones, who already has four downtown establishments, has signed a deal to take over the food service at The Social, a restaurant and bar at the corner of 11th Street and Broadway that opened in July 2014. The name and concept of the new restaurant will be revealed in the next couple of weeks, Jones said.
5. Phenix City man once linked to 5 homicides sentenced on drug and gun charges: Antonio Darset King Sr., an alleged career criminal from Phenix City who faces a capital murder charge in Russell County, was sentenced on federal drug and gun charges Thursday in Montgomery, Ala. Once King, 47, has been delivered to a federal prison, Russell County authorities can try him in the Feb. 24, 2014, fatal shooting of his 19-year-old nephew, Sayquwan Wiggins, said District Attorney Ken Davis.
This story was originally published August 13, 2016 at 9:46 PM with the headline "This week’s top stories from the Ledger-Enquirer."