Thursday, September 4, 2008

2 men charged over slaying of brothers


Two men were charged Tuesday night for their alleged role in the slaying of two brothers on the opening night of the Miami-Dade County Fair in March, police said.

Carlton Williams, 20, and Norris Smith, 21, were arrested on charges of second-degree murder and armed robbery in the deaths of their pals, brothers Dion and Danzel Coppet, 17 and 20 years old.

Homicide detectives believe Williams, Smith and the Coppets had tried to rob a man in another car at a Shell gas station near Florida International University early on March 28. Police believe the unnamed victim, in self-defense, shot and killed the Coppets and wounded Williams.

The four young men had just attended the opening night of the fair. The shooting happened about 12:20 a.m. at the station at Southwest Eighth Street and 107th Avenue, police said.

Under Florida law, someone who commits a violent felony -- in this case, armed robbery and false imprisonment -- can be charged with murder if one of their cohorts dies. Smith and Williams, both of Florida City, were booked Tuesday night into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center

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