New Church man indicted for Mappsville Dollar General murder

By Linda Cicoira

An Accomack Grand Jury indicted a New Church man Monday of second-degree murder and firearm offenses in connection with a county resident who was shot multiple times in the parking lot of the Dollar General in Mappsville last November.

Court records stated that 45-year-old Jamal Anthony Samuel, of Holland Road, is known to authorities to be affiliated with a street gang. He is accused of killing 43-year-old Maurice Anthony Holden, of Melfa, on Nov. 1, possession of a gun by a felon, and use of a firearm in the alleged murder.

Records state that witnesses and surveillance footage disclosed that Holden was at the check-out counter of the business at about 7:20 p.m. when a woman pulled her car up to the store and went inside. While she was shopping, Holden left the store with his purchases.

According to a warrant, Samuel got out of the passenger side of the woman’s car and threw a bottle at Holden. Holden then put his purchases in his car and approached the suspect.

“The man discharged a firearm multiple times at Holden,” the report stated. He then got into the driver’s seat. The woman left the store without her purchases and got into the car, and the two headed south on Lankford Highway.

Sheriff’s deputies were alerted. They responded and found Holden suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim died at the scene.

Court records show Samuel was convicted of grand theft and use of a firearm in April 2009 when he lived in Accomac. He is being held in the Accomack County Jail.