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Jailhouse Interview: Henrico man lied to police, but denied shooting girlfriend

Posted at 10:35 PM, Aug 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-30 06:21:01-04

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- After a shooting in Henrico's East End Monday afternoon, Melvin Wesley called 911 and said a masked man robbed him and shot his girlfriend in the chest.

She was rushed to VCU Medical Center.

It was there, in the hospital by his girlfriend's bed, where police arrested Wesley on Wednesday for being the one who actually pulled the trigger.

Investigators were on scene at the Newbridge Apartments Monday afternoon, sorting through a report that a masked gunman had kicked in an apartment door and shouted, "You know what time it is?"

There was a problem with the story Wesley told police.

"They said that the cameras from the rental office building showed me and that I was saying, wasn't true," Wesley said from Henrico Jail.

Melvin Wesley

Wesley's girlfriend had been shot in the chest, and her injuries were considered life-threatening.

Wesley later admitted he lied to police, but still claimed he was not the person who pulled the trigger.

"Ballistics and all that gonna tell the truth,” he told CBS 6 Crime Insider reporter Jon Burkett. “I'm innocent."

“What is the truth?” Burkett pressed.

“I feel like, I don't want to put it out there, man,” Wesley said. “I want her to do that."

Crime Insider sources said Wesley's girlfriend -- the woman who was shot -- is the same woman who reported her neighbor and friend Starquay Spruill missing a little less than a month ago.

Wesley said investigators did have questions for him about that.

Starquay Aisha Spruill

"I guess from the first story I had told them at first, they were thinking it was Star-related,” he said. “But that's not what they said today."

Spruill is the sister of Marty Cobb. You may recall, Cobb  was eight years old when he was killed trying to protect another sister in May 2014. He was remembered fondly as the "Tiny Hero."

Marty Cobb

Wesley's girlfriend of a year remained in critical, but stable condition, Wednesday night.

Wesley insisted the truth would set him free, and that truth would come from her  mouth, not his.

"That's my girlfriend. I love that girl, man,” Wesley said. “If I would have did something like that, I wouldn't have been at the hospital like I was."

Wesley said he did not know where Spruill was and that her disappearance has weighed heavily on them.

This is a developing story. Witnesses can send news tips, photos, and video here.

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