Greene Co. Deputy remembered one year later

SNOW HILL, N.C. - It's been one year since a sheriff's deputy from the east was killed in the line of duty.

Greene County Deputy, Jon Willis was shot and killed last July while responding to a domestic disturbance call.

Tonight, friends and family will come together to pay tribute to the fallen deputy.

The pain is still fresh for everyone who knew Deputy Jon Willis.

"We were shocked when it happened. No one thought something like this could happen. And to think it's been a year, it seems like three months ago," said Snow Hill business owner, Peggy Clifton.

The 31-year-old father of two was responding to a domestic dispute shortly before 8 on the night of July 28, 2010.  When he arrived at the house, deputies say 22-year-old Daniel Meyers shot Willis several times before turning the gun on himself. Willis died a short time later.

Lt. Eric Stallings was a dear friend of Deputy Willis. He still remembers the day he heard the news of his friend's passing.

"I told his father we had a pact. And if anything ever happened I'd take care of him," said Stallings.

He stood by his word.

Fellow deputies and community members will hor Willis tonight during a candlelight vigil.

More than 200 people are expected at the Greene County Courthouse for the  vigil, which was organized by Stallings and his wife. A bench will also be dedicated to Willis.

Although Stallings and fellow officers still grieve Willis' death, their resolve to never forget how he lived is stronger still.

"Even though the candleight is designed to remember John, it's also to remind people you're never guaranteed tomorrow," said Stallings.

The vigil will be  tonight at 8:30 outside of the Greene County Courthouse.

The Jon-Michael Willis Law Enforcement Foundation has also been set up in honor of Law Enforcement members who died or were injured in the line of duty.

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SNOW HILL, N.C. - It's been one year since a local sheriff's deputy was killed in the line of duty.

Tonight, friends and family will gather at a candlelight vigil to remember Greene County Deputy Jon Willis.

On this day last year, Deputy Willis was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call in Greene County.

The gunman, 22-year-old Daniel Myers shot Willis several times inside the home before shooting and killing himself.

Since that tragic day, the Jon-Michael Willis Law Enforcement Foundation was formed to help families whose loved one has been killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.

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SNOW HILL, N.C. - Across the east, the community is still mourning the loss of Greene County Sheriff's Deputy Jon Willis.

Willis was shot and killed while responding to a domestic call in the Brook Meadows subdivision near Snow Hill.

Friends of Willis and his family are slowing trickling into the neighborhood where he died. Many say they have to see it to believe it.

Further details about what lead up to the shooting are still unknown.  911 tapes from the shooting will not be released.

They will surely add some perspective into what lead up to this tragic event.

Nine On Your Side will be in Greene County all day talking to the people to find out how they plan to memorialize a man who lost his life in the line of duty.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Smith says the visitation and funeral for Willis will be held the same day, Tuesday, at the Ormondsville Original Free Will Baptist Church off Highway 903.  The visitation will be from 10-2 with the funeral immediately following. Willis will later be cremated. Cotton Funeral Home in New Bern is handling arrangements.

The gunman in the incident, 22-year-old Daniel Meyers, turned the gun on himself after shooting the officer.

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SNOW HILL, N.C. – An outpouring of emotion all across the east tonight following the death of Greene County deputy Jon Willis.

31 year old Greene County deputy Jon Willis was shot and killed inside a home last night.

Flags are at half staff in honor of Willis, who last night paid the ultimate price protecting others.

Shortly before 8 last night, Willis responded to a domestic violence call at 89 Brook Place.

Willis was alone at the time, went inside and was shot and killed by 22 year old Daniel Myers who came out of a bedroom inside the house firing a hand gun.  Myers hit Willis multiple times. He died on scene.

Myers was no stranger to crime.  Nine On Your Side did a criminal background check on Myers and it turns out he has an extensive list of charges.

Over the past couple years, Myers has been charged with assault on a female, assault with a deadly weapon, and resisting arrest.

Most of those charges came from Greene and Wayne counties.

Myers was on parole for a conviction from August 2009.

Sheriff Lemmie Smith said a call is different and you just never know what may happen, “We're trained on how to respond to these situations and you really don't know what kind of situation you might have when you arrive to the scene of a domestic. A domestic is one of the most dangerous calls you can go on."

A deputy was en route to back him up but arrived after the shooting happened.

Sheriff Smith says Willis was issued a bullet proof vest but was not wearing it at the time.

Willis had two children, a boy and a girl.

We’ll have more throughout the day on wnct.com and tonight at 6 on Eyewitness News 9.