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Palm prints linked suspect to Old Navy killing

Thursday, February 12, 2009
(Updated Monday, February 16 - 9:48 am)

GREENSBORO - A palm print lifted off a vehicle parked near Friendly Center linked Greensboro police to their suspect in the fatal 10 a.m. shooting on Dec. 15 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 Brink's Security guard, by a man who was dressed in nursing scrubs and a wig.

The man shot Salado twice, with at least one round hitting Salado in the head, police have said.

Salado died at Moses Cone Hospital.

After the shooting, the shooter 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 shooter 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; the print matched that of Isaam Mattaay Chaplin, 28.

He was arrested and charged Monday with first-degree murder in Salado's death.

Another witness reported seeing the shooter 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. It was unclear Wednesday what, if anything, was found at the home.

Capt. Janice Rogers, head of the police criminal investigations division, declined to comment 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 N.C. A&T campus police about 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 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.

He 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

Comments

This article has been closed to new comments. Comments are generally closed after 14 days. However, comments may be closed earlier at the discretion of the News & Record.

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ultraviolet

February 12, 2009 - 1:22 pm EST

My only comment is that your print edition had a headline that used the term mall in describing the shooting. Isn't that a big disservice to a real mall and shouldn't it be corrected? Friendly Center is anything but a mall and it should be noted that this did not happen at any mall that anyone is aware in Greensboro.

MyTwoCents

February 12, 2009 - 1:35 pm EST

Good grief! Get over yourself, "ultraviolet". What a stupid comment.

A man, real live human being, was KILLED - shot in his head! Had a family, a 6 year old at home - and you're going to post a ridiculous comment like that?

kassual8

February 12, 2009 - 3:36 pm EST

Im with you ,Mytwocents. someone was murdered and the only comment to be made was about the"mall" in the headline.

Ryan Seals

February 12, 2009 - 4:59 pm EST

Merriam-Webster's definition:

mall:

a: an urban shopping area featuring a variety of shops surrounding a usually open-air concourse reserved for pedestrian traffic b: a usually large suburban building or group of buildings containing various shops with associated passageways.

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