Deputies hunt for gunman in murder 11/23/2009 11:37 PM By KAREN DAILY Staff writer
A 35-year-old Aiken man was shot dead in North Augusta late Monday in what officials have said appears to be a drug deal gone bad.
Paul Joseph Lirley, 35, of Marvin Drive in Aiken, was pronounced dead near Crestlyn Drive and Weston Street about 7 p.m., said Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton.
Deputies with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office received some information about the gunman from a family member of the victim's family, but deputies did not have an identification at press time.
Investigators then called on the bloodhound tracking team to search for gunman, but witnesses said they saw the man get into a vehicle nearby.
He was last seen getting into a white Oldsmobile Alero with tinted windows.
The accused shooter is described as a black male in his late teens. He is between 5 feet 7 and 5 feet 9 inches tall and about 160 to 180 pounds.
The Aiken County Coroner's Office and the Aiken County Sheriff's Office are investigating.
An autopsy is scheduled in Newberry today to determine the cause of death.
The manner of death is homicide, said Carlton.
This is the third homicide reported in Aiken County in four days.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Aiken County Sheriff's Office at (800) 922-9709. Individuals also should call CrimeStoppers of the Midlands at (888) CRIME-SC. Callers can remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of between $50 and $1,000.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.
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Posted by: BLACK MAN On: Thursday, November 26, 2009 12:04 PM
Comment Title:
I am a racist haha
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Posted by: Innocent but Wary On: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 6:14 PM
Comment Title: How Do You Know?
So this gentleman was murdered in the presence of his family because he was in a "known drug area"? Will someone please POST these areas because I have lived here for five years and I drive around and do NOT know where my life will be taken for the wanton pleasure of destruction.
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Posted by: Max On: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 12:56 PM
Comment Title: ???
Then WHY was he in this area? A KNOWN drug area? I know they werent there for the sights! I know his wife too and would never think that she would be somewhere like that.....
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 12:39 PM
Comment Title:
I personally knew Joe. This was NOT a drug deal gone bad. Yesterday was his 35th birthday. His wife was in the car. He was a kind and loving husband and step-father to 2 wonderful children. More then likely, he was killed by another "gangsta" wanna be that believed it would make him "cool" in the eyes of his gangbanger friends. We as upstanding citizens, need to stay on law enforcement and State officials to actually punish people that commit these senseless crimes and stop using taxpayers money to keep them in jail with everything provided for free!! I say bring back hangings and chain gangs! I don't care what color the perpetrator is!
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 11:58 AM
Comment Title:
lol at BLACK MAN. You might want to educate yourself before advocating others educate themselves.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:47 AM
Comment Title:
the victom was white! and he does have a family!!!!
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Posted by: BLACK MAN On: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 9:46 AM
Comment Title: TO ALL BLACK YOUTH
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE BENEFICENT THE MERCIFUL:
AS-SALAAM-ALAKIUM
Dear brothers and sisters this is just a short letter to inform you that we are in a very serious time in our history. We are killing each other at alarming rates. We are dropping out of school and entering these prisons more than ever before. We are doing all of this while your manifest enemy is going to colleage and having babies. The plan is to eradicate the Black man and we are pawns in his plan. The devil is real and he smiling everytime that one of us kills another brother, drop out of school or get locked up. My dear brothers and sisters, THE MOST HONORABLE ELIJAH MUHAMMAD taught us that the original man is THE BLACK MAN,THE MAKER, THE OWNER, THE CREAM OF THE PLANET EARTH, THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE.But we have fell short of that because of the way that we are living. Its time to rise up above the negativity and the evil that we are in and part ways with the devil. He knows that his time is up and he laughs when we kill ourselves because then we are folling him. My dear brothers and sisters,please lets stop the violance and educate our people back to our righteous selves and give the devil back his sin and unrighteous ways. You are a people of GOD by nature and once you turn away from the devil and start the road to a better life, you are on your way to becoming one with the creator. Give this life back to the devils that tricked you into living this way and come back to the GOD that gave you life in the first place. One love my people: AS-SALAAM-ALAKIUM
BLACK MAN
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Posted by: ALC On: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 6:23 AM
Comment Title: Save taxpayers' money
No need to send Paul Joseph Lirley's body to Newberry. I know how he died, "he was shot dead."
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 12:51 AM
Comment Title:
When are the leaders of the black community going to stand up and promote education and respect and personal responsibility instead this gangsta, thuggery culture of drugs, guns, and violence?
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 12:50 AM
Comment Title:
Well if it is Aiken's sheriff who is looking for him then he is safe unless he turns himself in.
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