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Police: Palm print linked suspect to Old Navy killing

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
(Updated Thursday, February 12 - 5:59 am)

GREENSBORO - A palm print lifted off a vehicle parked near Friendly Center is what linked Greensboro police to their suspect in the fatal Dec. 15 shooting outside Old Navy, police and court documents confirmed Wednesday.

Court documents released late Wednesday detail witness accounts of the moments after the fatal shooting and robbery of Juan Estaban Salado, 25, a Brinks Security guard, by a man who was dressed in nursing scrubs and a wig around 10 a.m. Dec. 15.

The man shot Salado twice, with at least one round hitting Salado in the head, police have said. Salado died later at Moses Cone Hospital.

After the shooting, the suspect ran and got into a getaway vehicle with an undisclosed amount of money from an Old Navy deposit Salado was picking up in an armored car.

Court documents reviewed Wednesday say a witness saw the suspect touching several cars as he fled, including cars parked at the Exxon station at Green Valley Road and Northline Avenue.

Crime scene analysts lifted a palm print from a Lexus, which matched the prints of Isaam Mattaay Chaplin, 28. He was arrested and charged Monday with first-degree murder in Salado's death.

Another witness reported seeing the suspect getting into a dark car with a "fin" across the back and fleeing.

Court documents also list that police searched one of Chaplin's former residences at 1735 Hannaford Drive - but it was unclear Wednesday what, if anything, was found at the home.

Capt. Janice Rogers, head of the Greensboro Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division, declined comment specifically on how much evidence police have linking Chaplin to the crime.

"We had over 150 Crime Stoppers tips from citizens of this city and surrounding areas that gave information on the Old Navy case," Rogers said.

"We created multiple leads... they went in all directions and from that, we had to start putting the pieces together."

Chaplin, whose last known address is listed as 3810-H Cotswald Ave., was arrested by NC A&T campus police around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday outside Campbell Hall by an officer responding to an argument call.

Officers believed Chaplin was involved in the argument and began questioning him, campus officials said. Campus police soon learned he was a person of interest in a Greensboro homicide and arrested him on outstanding warrants in connection with a traffic violation. He was then turned over to Greensboro police.

Chaplin was a former student at the university, having attended as early as 2004 before withdrawing in both the spring and fall semesters of 2008. He made the Dean's list at the school for the fall 2004 semester.

Chaplin was a 2005 member of the university football team's practice squad and assisted with the team's equipment that season, university officials said.

He was also a former employee at the Old Navy at Friendly Center, having worked at the store from 2002 to 2005, a company spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Police have said Chaplin had no prior criminal record other than a few minor traffic violations.

Attempts to reach his family and friends for comment have been unsuccessful.

Staff Writer Jennifer Fernandez contributed to this report.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com

 

 


 

Accompanying Photos

Courtesy Guilford County jail

Photo Caption: Isaam Mattaay Chaplin

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