Maine Man Charged With 3 Counts Of First-Degree Murder

Wednesday, July 4th 2007, 9:03 am

By: News On 6

FRYEBURG, Maine (AP) _ A man wanted in at least three Southern states has been arrested in connection with the killings of a manager and two customers during an apparent robbery at an outdoor gear store in New Hampshire.

All three victims were shot in the head.

Police arrested Michael Woodbury, 31, of Windham, Maine, on Tuesday and charged him with three counts of first-degree murder for the shootings a day earlier at the Army Barracks store in Conway, N.H. They declined to comment on a possible motive for the shootings, but the company that owns the store said it appeared to have been a robbery.

Woodbury also was wanted in South Carolina and Tennessee in armed robbery cases, and had warrants in Georgia on arson, burglary and forgery, police said.

Woodbury was being held at the Oxford County Jail in Paris, Maine. A court hearing was not expected to be scheduled until later this week. The jail said Tuesday night that Woodbury had not yet called an attorney.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots Monday at the Army Barracks. Some reported seeing a fleeing man wearing a light shirt and camouflage shorts.

On Tuesday morning, a witness reported seeing a possible suspect walking on railroad tracks in Fryeburg, about 10 miles east of Conway.

Killed were store manager James Walker, 34, and customers William Jones, 25, of Walpole, Mass., and Gary Jones, 23, of Plymouth, Mass. The Joneses were not related.

Autopsy results released Tuesday showed that Walker died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head, William Jones died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest and Gary Jones died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

Army Barracks, a small chain, is based in Salem, Mass. The stores sell camping equipment and gear such as knives, stun guns and paintball guns, but no firearms, Vice President Marilyn Brabantes said. On Tuesday, flowers and a yellow ribbon had been placed by the door to the store, along with a pair of soldier figurines.

Kenny Jones, the brother of William Jones, said William and Gary Jones were friends returning from a camping trip in Maine.

``I couldn't be happier that they have someone in custody,'' Kenny Jones said. ``I hope it's the right person and I hope they can make the charges stick because I want to see somebody pay for this.''