An Arlington County Grand Jury on Monday indicted 53-year-old James Sylvester Caroline on capital murder and weapons charges stemming from the July 27 jewelry store robbery that left its beloved owner dead.
Caroline, of Washington, was indicted on charges of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony and capital murder during the commission of a robbery.
The grand jury convened at 9 a.m. Monday and heard a number of cases. The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office for Arlington and Falls Church drafted the indictments, and the lead Arlington County police detective on the homicide investigation testified.
"It's just part of the process," Commonwealth's Attorney Theo Stamos told Patch. "We assessed the facts, we presented it to the grand jury, and the case will unfold as it unfolds."
Tommy Kin Mo Wong, 52, of Herndon, was found shot to death behind the counter of his Columbia Pike jewelry store, Capital Jewelers, early on the morning of July 28. Family members had called police to report he had not returned home after work.
Detectives worked around the clock, some not sleeping for 48 hours, and Caroline was arrested five days later.
Arlington County police arrested Caroline on Aug. 2 and charged him with a probation violation. He was charged with first-degree murder the next day.
Caroline was on probation for a series of credit card fraud and theft charges.
Friends and family described Wong as a hard-working family man and a beloved member of the community. More than 200 people attended a candlelight vigil for him on Aug. 1.
Caroline is due in court on Thursday to set a trial date.
