Two SC men receive prison sentence in robbery-shooting with security officer www.privateofficer.com

Gaffney, SC Dec 7 2011Two Gaffney men received substantial prison sentences Monday after they admitted to robbing a Cherokee County restaurant at gunpoint.

Calvin Smith, Jr. 17, and Lloyd Jefferies, 20, pleaded guilty to May 8, 2010 armed robbery of Sonny’s. Circuit Judge Derham Cole issued 30-year prison sentences that were suspended to the service of 15 years and 5 years of probation. Smith also pleaded guilty to an unrelated discharging a firearm into a vehicle charge and received a consecutive 5-year prison sentence. His cumulative service time behind bars is 20 years.

Smith, Jefferies and Michael S. Davidson, 16, also of Gaffney, entered the business about 3 a.m. and held it up at gunpoint. One of the bandits wore a mask and a hooded jacket while he threatened to shoot the clerk if she didn’t fill his bag with money. Another disguised gunman stood by holding a rifle. The third man also had a gun, according to witness statements.

A store security guard unholstered his gun and ordered the bandits to drop their weapons. Gunfire erupted moments later. All three men were shot before they left the business. Sheriff’s deputies located Davidson at a house on 6th Street and Smith was located hiding behind an old couch that sat across the street from the business. Davidson died a short time later at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Smith also received treatment at Spartanburg Regional. Deputies took Jefferies into custody at Mary Black Memorial Hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound.

Deputies recovered the rifle and a bag full of money near the front doors of the business and they found a mask in the parking lot. Deputies further developed the case by taking written statements from store employees, store customers and others who interacted with Smith, Jefferies and Davidson in the aftermath of the shooting.