Billy Forte
An eyewitness to a murder off Amnicola Highway testified Tuesday morning that she begged Billy Forte not to kill her too.
The female employee of Eaves Formal Wear on Creekside Drive where the homicide happened said after Forte shot his son twice he pointed the gun toward her. She said she told him, "Please don't kill me. I've got kids."
She said the 66-year-old Forte then told her to "get out of my d--- business."
General Sessions Court Judge Clarence Shattuck bound a criminal homicide charge to the Grand Jury against Forte in the killing of 47-year-old Charles Forte.
The witness said she forgot her cell phone and went back inside.
She said Forte was on the phone saying that "his boy had been shot."
She said when she got back outside and in her car with the phone she called 911.
The employee said Billy Forte had arrived at the business and began asking his son about a business ticket or order. She said they went outside the door to talk.
Then, she said she "heard a real loud noise. It scared me. I jumped."
She found that Charles Forte had been shot, then she said the father put another bullet into him with a 410 shotgun.
Boyd Patterson of the Public Defender's Office, asked her about financial troubles the firm was having. He asked if she knew that the son had been using lines of credit from the business to prop up a side business - Crystal Springs - he had.
The attorney said Charles Forte had felony convictions in Federal Court, including for selling cocaine, and was not suppose to have a weapon. The attorney indicated he may have had one earlier that day, though no weapon was found on him.
The incident happened on April 2 at 7:30 p.m. at 910 Creekside Road.
Officers found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said Billy Forte admitted shooting his son. The shotgun was found at the scene.