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[Dyersburg State Gazette]
Dyersburg, Tennessee ~ Monday, October 6, 2008
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14-year-old charged with murder of Halls man

Friday, January 11, 2008
RIPLEY -- The suspect in the murder in Halls of the U.S. Army solder home on leave over the Christmas holidays appeared in Lauderdale County Juvenile Court on Friday.

Ledontay Duffie, 14, wearing a tan jacket and white shirt, sat passively during the minute-long detention hearing.

Duffie's legal counsel, Memphis attorney Robert Brannon, stood before juvenile court judge Rachel J. Anthony after notifying the prosecution team that Duffie had agreed to a mental health evaluation. After the evaluation is complete, the prosecution, on a charge of voluntary manslaughter, will be continued.

Brannon declined to comment on the matter after the hearing.

Duffie has been in the custody of Youth Villages in Memphis since he was arrested for the Dec. 27 killing of Donnie Arwood, 21, at Arwood's Jones Street residence. Arwood's father, Steve, was also shot. He survived.


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if our soldier who came home from irag fighting for the freedom of all of americans dont u think if he had such a criminal record he would not be a Soldier for the united states he was a close friend of mine and was not a violent person

-- Posted by TnMom21 on Mon, Mar 10, 2008, at 11:24 PM

People that have just heard rumors and weren't there should not say what happened. They dont know what really happened. No doors were kicked in. The Arwood family was acquainted with the man who actually lived in the house. The man had been to the Arwood home on several occassions. They were having a discussion about some cigarettes that were taken by mistake and it had been resolved. The Arwoods were leaving the home when the kid stood up and started shooting. He never said a word, just started shooting. Yes, maybe the Arwood family should not have went to the man's house but the Arwoods took no weapons to this man's home, none at all. Nothing was ever said to this kid. He was a visitor there from out of town. He was not even in the conversation.

-- Posted by newbernite01 on Sun, Jan 20, 2008, at 7:26 PM

Everyone should just get off the subject about punishing this kid for killing donny arwood. ive heard many sides to this story and what really happened and all i have to say is that they never should have went over to the kids house to get him back for stealing a pack of cigarettes. all of the people involved should have more common since to get revenge while drunk if they were. they should have stopped the soldier arwood from going over there. the charges put on the kid will eventually be dropped thanks to arwoods stupidity by smashing the door in and having knives pulled out at the kid. arwood should have listened when he was told by neighbors to and the kid to get off the property and go home. if this kid is going to be charged then arwoods family should have charges filed on them as well.

-- Posted by theplaymaker on Sun, Jan 13, 2008, at 10:09 PM

I am so sick of people always bringing up hate crimes. Wake up people, when you bring that up, guess what? Many people are tired of that word. Every nationality would love to bury that word and never let it surface again. Unless, you were at the house in question, you don't know what happened. Some young people have so much hatred in them that they don't care who or what they hurt. The State Gazette would not willingly publish false information. Certain people are quick to talk about hate crimes because they think that their race Can Do No Wrong. Every one, regardless of which race, has evil people. Let justice be served, regardless of the race involved. God is the one that will be doing the true judging in the end.

-- Posted by TN Blues on Sat, Jan 12, 2008, at 11:18 AM

Is this a case of Tennessee justice?

-- Posted by mike p on Sat, Jan 12, 2008, at 10:05 AM

1st of all the solider had a crimal record. 2nd of all he was committing a hate crime.

this story if so false, even the clothes described was not correct. they entered the house with armed weapons intent to commit a murder. Where is all this false information coming from & why hasn't the father been arrested for home invasion with intent to commit a crime, also why haven't we heard anything about all the guns that were recovered from the arwoods home. & for passon12 it was more that 1 crime committed, the arwoods committed a crime also. did he think cause he was a soldier he can go around threatening people with loaded guns.

-- Posted by finger1 on Fri, Jan 11, 2008, at 3:14 PM

all i have to say about this is why is'nt the family being notfied of these hearings noone knew about this boy being in court at all i think thats totally unfair and as for the true story of this noone knows the truth of what happened that nite and the only way the family will know the truth is to be at these court hearings someone needs to let the family of the court dates

-- Posted by PeaceFrog on Fri, Jan 11, 2008, at 1:27 PM

-- Posted by babygirl1207 on Fri, Jan 11, 2008, at 12:59 PM

As I heard the story, the soldier, his father, and other family members stated they were going to do a "rambo" on the people two doors down. They kicked in the door where this child was innocently sleeping on the couch, and hit HIM in the face with a gun while threatening him. THIS CHILD HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH WHATEVER THESE PEOPLE HAD GOING ON. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN THIS SITUATION? TRUST ME, THE STATE GAZETTE'S ARTICLE IS TOTALLY WRONG!! THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT NAME, AGE, OR FACTS! THEY SHOULD GET ALL THE FACTS BEFORE WRITING ANY ARTICLE! THAT'S MISLEADING THE PUBLIC! PLUS EVERY CHILD GETS A MENTAL EVALUATION IF THEY'RE CHARGED WITH A FELONY!

-- Posted by myz.lady on Fri, Jan 11, 2008, at 12:51 PM

There would be no way this guy is mentle. All these people get caught then claim they are mentle! Do the crime BABY then cry the time!!!!!!!!

-- Posted by passon12 on Fri, Jan 11, 2008, at 9:16 AM


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