Wednesday, April 17, 2013
James Sylvester Caroline entered an Alford plea Wednesday in Arlington County Circuit Court.
A 53-year-old Washington man pleaded guilty Wednesday in Arlington County Circuit Court to charges related to the shooting death of Tommy Wong, a Columbia Pike jewelry store owner, last summer. James Sylvester Caroline pleaded guilty to capital murder and the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was sentenced to life in prison plus three years. Caroline entered an Alford plea before Chief Judge William T. Newman Jr. That means he does not admit to the crimes, only that the commonwealth had enough evidence against him so that it was in his best interest to avoid a trial. Had the matter gone to trial, Caroline could have received the death penalty upon conviction. "This was an appropriate outcome," said Commonwealth's …
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Case goes before an Arlington County Grand Jury in December.
James Sylvester Caroline, the man accused of killing a Columbia Pike jewelry store owner in late July, has waived his right to a preliminary hearing. His case will go before an Arlington County Grand Jury next month. Caroline, 53, was scheduled to have his hearing Thursday. Such hearings are held to determine if enough probable cause exists to send a case to a grand jury. Last week, Caroline waived his right to the hearing, Commonwealth's Attorney Theo Stamos said. His case will now go before a grand jury on Dec. 17. Caroline is accused of killing 52-year-old Tommy Wong during a robbery of Wong's jewelry store on Columbia Pike in late July. Earlier this month, Arlington Police Capt. Michelle Nuneville said some detectives didn't sleep for …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
The Arlington County Police Department will hold its final community crime forum tonight at Key Elementary School.
The spate of violent crimes this summer had Arlington County homicide detectives working around the clock. Some detectives, after the highly publicized killing of a Columbia Pile jewelry store owner, did not sleep for 36 to 48 hours. "We knew (the suspect) was going to do it again," Police Capt. Michelle Nuneville said recently at a community forum at the Arlington Career Center on Walter Reed Drive. "So, that was a relief when we got him off the street." The death of Tommy Wong was one of four homicides that stirred the community. After going more than two years with zero murders, this summer saw a murder-suicide, the murder of Wong, and a double-homicide that remains open. Investigators say they hope to make an arrest in the latter case …
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Hearing now scheduled for Nov. 29.
The preliminary hearing for 53-year-old James Sylvester Caroline in Arlington County General District Court has been postponed from early October to Nov. 29. Caroline is accused of killing 52-year-old Tommy Wong during a robbery of Wong's jewelry store on Columbia Pike in late July. Preliminary hearings are held to determine if enough probable cause exists to send a case to a grand jury. Caroline's attorney requested the later date, and Commonwealth's Attorney Theo Stamos did not object. "We're also waiting for some results and for some more investigation to come in," Stamos said. Stamos has declined to say what evidence would be presented at the hearing. Under Virginia law, murder committed during a robbery or attempted robbery is a …
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Under Virginia law, killing someone during the commission of a robbery is a capital offense.
The man accused of killing a 52-year-old Columbia Pike jewelry store owner has a preliminary hearing scheduled in early October in Arlington County General District Court. Prosecutors will begin laying out evidence against James Sylvester Caroline, 53, of Washington, at 2 p.m. on Oct. 4. Caroline faces one count of first-degree murder. He is accused of deliberately and with premeditation killing Tommy Wong on July 27, according to his arrest warrant. Police say Caroline killed Wong at his business, Capital Jewelers, during a robbery. Preliminary hearings are held to determine if enough probable cause exists to send a case to a grand jury. Commonwealth's Attorney Theo Stamos declined to comment on what evidence would be presented. Stamos …
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Patch welcomes letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity, accuracy and brevity.
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Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Hi, I have known Tommy Wong since 1996. I worked with him at Princess Jewelers for four years until I decided to go my way to live the American dream. I left in 2000. A year or two later, Tommy also decided to go out on his own — to live the American dream. When I decided to move to Atlanta, I opened a jewelry store with my brother. That's the dream of any entrepreneur — to work for yourself. I remember the good times that I had with Tommy. We worked together. We ate lunch together. We went skiing at Whitetail Mountain. And we went fishing together. I knew his son and daughter when they were little, but I'm pretty sure they don't know me. When I received a call from our boss in Virginia, I was so devastated. My heart goes out to the family…
Friday, August 3, 2012
Investigators have accused Caroline of killing a 52-year-old man during an armed robbery last week.
Arlington County police today formally charged 53-year-old James Sylvester Caroline of Washington, D.C., with the murder of a Columbia Pike jewelry store owner. Police arrested Caroline on Wednesday on a probation violation. He has been and will continue to be held without bond, according to police. Caroline is accused of killing Tommy Wong, a 52-year-old Herndon resident, at Capital Jewelers on Columbia Pike during an armed robbery last week. Caroline also is the suspect in a June 9 armed robbery in northwest Washington, according to police. Investigators are not planning on bringing any additional charges against Caroline in relation to the Arlington homicide at this time, police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said. Sternbeck would not …
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Arlington police have arrested a 52-year-old Washington man and are holding him on a probation violation charge.
Arlington County police have arrested 52-year-old James Sylvester Caroline, of Washington, D.C., in connection with last week's armed robbery that left a beloved Columbia Pike jewelry store owner dead. Caroline has been charged with probation violation, according to a police news release. He is currently being held without bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility in the Courthouse neighborhood. Authorities have not yet brought additional charges against the man but say in the news release that more are "expected … for his role" in the recent homicide. "Additional charges are expected to be brought forward on Caroline in relation to the July 27, 2012 jewelry store homicide that resulted in the death of 52 year-old Tommy Wong," the …
Family, friends remember homicide victim Tommy Wong.
Tommy Wong always had a kind word for everyone. Wong was found dead late Friday, the victim of what police say was an armed robbery of his Arlington jewelry store earlier that day. But his words — and actions — continue to resonate and touch the lives of people far beyond the Columbia Pike neighborhood where he worked. More than 200 people gathered in front of Capital Jewelers, 3219A Columbia Pike, on Wednesday night for a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Wong. One after another, family members, friends, customers and people who just work in the neighborhood took turns memorializing Wong, 52, of Herndon. They spoke of his generosity, his kindness and his professionalism. They told stories of the hard-working family man who lived the …
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3219 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA
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Tommy Wong, 52, was killed Friday during what police say was an armed robbery of his business, Capital Jewelers.
More than 200 people showed up on Columbia Pike on Wednesday night to attend a candlelight vigil for 52-year-old Tommy Wong. Wong, of Herndon, was killed Friday afternoon during what police say was an armed robbery of his business, Capital Jewelers. By all accounts, Wong was a hard-working family man who was known for his kindness, generosity and professionalism. The killer remains at large.
Jerome
7:43 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
The problem with characterizing people based on your reaction to their appearance is that history's greatest mass murderers have often been dapper pleasant looking people. And, some pretty homely folks have been among our greatest world citizens. I am glad that the Arlington Police Department is saying very little about this. I am really tired of stories in which the press spills everything they … more ›