Posted on 02/19/2014 11:13:27 AM PST by Gamecock
LEXINGTON — A 22-year-old Columbia man has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2011 murder at the Harbison Olive Garden.
Gonzales “Snoop” Wardlaw, 22, was found guilty of murdering Thomas T. Hoefer, 21, of Columbia, on Friday.
Hoefer, who was at the restaurant for a birthday party for his fiancee’s mother, was shot in the chest on Dec. 29, 2011. with a .22-caliber handgun. He died on the way to the hospital.
Testimony at the trial, according to information released Wednesday by the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, revealed that the two men met at the restaurant for a marijuana purchase. Wardlaw, unhappy with the type of drug, grew (sic) a gun, shot Hoefer and fled, according to a press release.
Rap lyrics found in Wardlaw’s home three weeks after the shooting tied him to the shooting. It included references to “hit ‘em in his chest” and “caught ‘em at da Olive Garden.” Lyrics also appeared to boast that people who slight the lyric’s writer end up dead. In testimony, Wardlaw acknowledged the lyrics were his, but that he acted in self defense. The Lexington jury that convicted Wardlaw deliberated for 50 minutes.
In sentencing, Hoefer’s family asked for the maximum sentence. Wardlaw admitted to breaking the law, apologized to the court and asked for mercy.
Deputy Solicitors Rick Hubbard and Shawn Graham prosecuted the case on behalf of Solicitor Donnie Myers.
Ping
Poetic justice.
When being an aspiring rap artist backfires...
Olive Garden? Was Ryan’s Steak House booked?
“grew (sic) a gun”
I just want to know how he “grew” a gun...
I might get into farming if you can grow firearms...
Wait... juries believe rap-song boasts? It falls in the category of “serves hi right,” but I’m also concerned that the real killer might elude justice.
Well... it works like this.
He didn't 'buy' it at the store. He "grew" a pair of (testicles) while livin' in the hood, and "grew" (developed) the right "connections" to get a piece.
Then, it was simply a matter of time before he would be able to claim he was being "disrespected" and in response would draw that gun and solve his little "problem".
That it "happened" according to the lyrics of a favored rap song is just proof that what you think about the most, you "Draw" to you.
**Wardlaw acknowledged the lyrics were his, but that he acted in self defense.**
Still, there may be others involved.
They wanted to kick it up a notch from Denny’s and Chuck-E-Cheese.
Has anyone considered he was trying to help the guy? He prevented him from eating at Olive Garden.
If there was any justice Michael Dunn will have to share a cell with this guy.
If this had happened in Colorado, the dude could have just taken the other dude to small claims court instead of being forced to shoot him over a bad dope deal.
South Carolina Ping
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Here's how he grew his gun.
So, .22 caliber will kill you.
Red Lobster was booked solid that night.
That’s one way to grow a gun.
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