DINWIDDIE - Legal hearings began Monday in a bizarre pair of thefts involving pit bull puppies that left one man behind bars and his alleged partner in crime dead.
Darrell Christopher Canter, of Colonial Heights, was certified Monday to face a grand jury on Jan. 21 on three felony counts, including robbery, use of firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a sawed-off shotgun.
The charges stem from a July 24 incident in which Canter and his uncle, Kevin Scully, allegedly robbed a victim with a sawed-off shot gun in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Sutherland.
The pair had arranged to meet the victim to purchase pit-bull puppies.
According to testimony given Monday, Canter placed a sawed-off shot gun on the hood of the victim's car during their meeting and made a threat.
"He said hand over the puppies and car keys and everything will be cool," the victim said.
Canter was arrested on July 28 in the incident while his uncle was killed before being taken in custody.
Kevin Scully, 32, was reportedly shot to death in the parking lot of a car wash in Hopewell by Xavier Durvelle Burkeley of Richmond, police said.
Scully had met Burkeley to purchase pit-bull puppies just days after the Sutherland robbery.
* Jason Reeves may be reached at 7232-3456, ext. 272.
