Lexington County (WLTX) - Lexington County deputies say they have arrested a man who they say tried to rob a pizza delivery--and then got shot.
Raymond Antonio Metze, 17, has been arrested and charged with armed robbery and possessing a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Monday afternoon, a judge set his bond at $100,000. His parents, Mario and Patricia, were there. They said they had not heard any details about the case except for a call from a neighbor and a call from the hospital.
"He might be seventeen but he got a child mind, he not interested in anything else," his mother said.
The delivery man called 9-1-1 about 11:47 p.m. on July 5 to report the robbery.
The delivery man told deputies that he drove to a home on Crestridge Drive to deliver a pizza that had been ordered to the residence. The home, however, was unoccupied.
The driver told authorities that he had an uneasy feeling about the house and the area. The man knocked on the front door, and that's when deputies say Metze confronted him.
Officers say Metze had been waiting for the driver on the side of the house.
Deputies say Metze pulled what appeared to be a handgun on a 29-year-old West Columbia pizza delivery man and demanded money. According to warrants, the pizza delivery man gave Metze all the cash and receipts he had in his pockets.
The driver told deputies that Metze kept pointing the weapon as he walked away. At that point, officers say the driver pulled out his handgun and fired one shot at Metze, wounding him in the chest.
Metze was taken to the hospital where he was released on Sunday, July 12. He was then transported to the Lexington County Detention Center.
Metze's parents say he is quiet and has never been in trouble except when he didn't show up to school.
The judge told him he should not contact the victim in the case. "This is the understanding, you are not to have any contact with this victim, that means anything in person. No telephone, no fax machine, no internet connection, two cans and a string or smoke signals. You understand that? You have any contact whatsoever and I'll issue a bench warrant, do I make myself clear?"
The pizza delivery man will not be charged in connection with the case, because detectives and prosecutors agree that he acted in self-defense.
Metze's father spoke about the weapon his son used, "but it wasn't a gun, it was a BB gun," he said.
His mother added, "I wouldn't say he innocent because he admitted to the judge that he did that."
This is the second shooting involving a pizza delivery driver in Lexington County this year. Back in early March, 43-year-old Christopher Miller shot and killed 17-year-old Paul Sturgill. In that case, Miller was approached by four suspects who tried to rob him. Similar to this recent incident, someone called in an order to a home that was unoccupied, then confronted the suspect.
Miller left his job after the incident. It was determined that he acted in self-defense.
7/13/2009 8:28:45 PM
