Four charged in deadly shooting of Vietnam veteran, deputies say

Harry Blakeney's life could fill any reality TV show. Aside from being a hoarder, he was accused of killing his wife during a flashback caused by PTSD and his time in Vietnam but with all of this his death is being tied yet again to Vietnam. It is suspected he was robbed and killed because he just received a disability check for Agent Orange.

Four charged in deadly shooting of Vietnam veteran, deputies say
Updated: Sep 22, 2011
By Chris Dyches, Web Content Producer

KERSHAW, SC (WBTV) - Deputies say four people have been charged after a Vietnam veteran was shot and killed in the streets near a church in Lancaster County.

According to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, the deadly robbery happened in the town of Kershaw near the intersection of N. Ingram and E. Church Streets around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, not far from the First Baptist Church.

Major Matt Shaw with the Sheriff's Office told WBTV that three men and a woman were charged after 21-year-old Jerel Davis and 25-year-old Heyward Truesdale went to the home of 69-year-old Harry E. Blakeney to commit armed robbery. During the robbery, shots were fired and Blakeney was killed.

Deputies say a bystander, 31-year-old Douglas Lewis, was standing near Blakeney when the shots were fired and was injured in the shooting.

According to deputies, Davis and Truesdale ran from the home and got into a vehicle with 35-year-old Prayon Truesdale and 19-year-old Shaun McCrorey.

Sources tell WBTV Blakeney is a Vietnam Veteran who killed his wife decades ago after returning from the war. The sources say he was having a flashback at the time and drowned her. After spending several years in a mental institution, he was released.

Those who knew Blakeney said he never got over the trauma of war.

"Many come back with wounds," said Rev. Bryant Fersner, Blakeney's pastor at First Baptist Church in Kershaw.

"Some of the wounds are visible. Many of the wounds are invisible. Ed was an invisible wounded warrior," said Fersner.

Neighbors said Blakeney had recently received a large settlement for being exposed to agent orange while serving in Vietnam and investigators believe the suspects were after Blakeney's money. Neighbors also described Blakeney as a hoarder, saying he had a reputation of buying and collecting anything from vehicles to tools to stash in his home.
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