CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Charleston police detectives don’t consider a Sunday night attack near the Bigley Ave. Go-Mart a random attack.
Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Cooper told reporters Tuesday victim Gregory Moran knew his attackers.
“He was familiar with the suspects. They were not unknown to him. It was not a random beating,” Lt. Cooper said.
Police released a surveillance video of the area that shows the attack.
“The video does depict the crime,” Cooper said.
Moran told police the group attacked him when he refused to buy drugs from them.
Moran managed to get away but he was chased down by the suspects and attacked again outside the Family Dollar.
Police soon arrived on scene and arrested Roland Brumgard, 22, Stephon Thomas, 22, Chardene Cope, 21, Lauren Watson, 19 and Juan Chapman, 23. All of them are charged with first degree robbery.
Watson is also charged with possession of marijuana.
Lt. Cooper said he wants residents of the Bigley Ave. area to know the attack was not random and had nothing to do with area businesses.
“The suspects and victim were acquainted. We’re not releasing the motive at this point but the puzzle has been pieced together,” according to Cooper.