Teen knew youth accused in his killing, say peers at N.C. memorial

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.

An Elizabeth City student killed Sunday after he was beaten and dragged by a car was known to be a friend to the fellow student who is charged with his murder.

James Edward Holley Jr., a 17-year-old senior at Northeastern High School, was regarded as a teenager who was always smiling, a person who would try to lift others, according to friends gathered Tuesday evening at the Elizabeth City waterfront to honor him.

"He always had something nice to say," said Terri Allen, whose son, Tyler, is a special-needs student. "He was always kind to Tyler."

Holley was found dead Sunday on Lisa's Way about 5 p.m., still lying outside the driver's door of his car, tangled in the seat belt. Police believe he was beaten as he drove his car, then pushed from the door and dragged down the street.

Jamareus Tyrone Mallory, a 16-year-old Northeastern High School student, was arrested at his home a few blocks away and charged with Holley's killing.

Abel Sutton, a youth minister at Faithway Church of Jesus in Elizabeth City, said he believed Mallory and Holley were friends. Sutton was called upon to counsel students at the school Monday.

"It was unexpected," he said.

Student body President Chauncey Bowden led the organization of Tuesday's gathering at the waterfront, where about 150 students and a few adults attended.

"We just wanted to do something for James on behalf of the student body," she said.

At school Monday, the mood was somber and it was unusually quiet, she said. There was tension with some of Mallory's friends, she said.

A little after 5 p.m. Tuesday, about 48 hours after Holley died, students listened as a classmate sang. Then they heard a few words and a prayer from Sutton, before releasing balloons.

Many carried signs with words for Holley, such as "rest in paradise." Many posters carried Dallas Cowboys stars on them because Holley was a big Cowboys fan.

Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com