About two weeks ago, police arrived on the scene at a thrift store in Orange County, North Carolina, to find two men had been shot. Money was missing from the register and one man, the store owner, was dead. The other, a retired deputy, died after being transported to a hospital.

Two days later, police arrested two young men, one 18 and the other 22, who were seen outside of the store after the shooting. They are being held on criminal charges of first-degree murder.

The two young men reportedly have each told police different stories but did confess to the armed robbery.

They have both exercised their right to have an attorney. Each young man's criminal defense attorney is likely to examine several circumstances surrounding the case.

Among these will be whether the confessions were obtained legally. In addition, there are interesting historical elements that will need to be ruled out as contributing factors. The retired deputy's son was charged with murder in 2010. In addition, the store where the shooting occurred was the scene of a killing several years before this one. The store owner at that time was killed in that shooting. Authorities have said that they do not believe either of these elements are connected to the case, but they still may need to be studied.

In a criminal case, it is important that the charges suit the crime and that the prosecution proves the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. If it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt that these two men were involved in this tragic shooting, it will be necessary that the charges and sentences are appropriate.

There is much evidence that emotions are running high regarding this case. One of the men is being held in a Raleigh prison for his protection, as it may not be safe for him to be held in Orange County because of the law enforcement connection of one of the victims.

Source: WRAL, "Two held without bond in deaths of Orange store owner, retired deputy," Tammy Grubb, Jan. 27, 2012