A young man found in Prosperity has been taken into custody and stands accused of a double murder last night in at a Chappells gas station.

Zachary Travorus Bookman, 22, of 657 Meadow View Lane, Newberry, was taken into custody by law enforcement officers this morning and is charged with two counts of murder, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during a violent crime.

Ralph Lovelace Harp, 30, 221 Cemetery Road, Greenwood, and Donald Eugene Springs Jr., 36, of 200 Rosenwald St., Saluda, were both found dead in the parking lot of Horne’s Store at the intersection of Highways 34 and 39 in the northwestern part of Newberry County.

A passerby noticed Harp laying on the ground by the store’s kerosene pump, and when they and a store clerk investigated they discovered Harp was dead—and that Springs was dead in a nearby car about 50 yards from the store.

Coroner Craig Newton said both victims died from a single gunshot wound. Springs was shot in the back of the head with the bullet exiting his forehead. Harp was shot in the back and the bullet tore through his right lung before exiting his chest. Newton said both men died within a minute of being shot.

Sheriff Lee Foster said, “the motive in this case appears to be drug-related.”

Both Bookman and Springs have criminal records. Foster said Bookman’s was mostly petty crimes. Saluda Sheriff Jason Booth said his department has a long history of dealings with Springs, and that those had included drug charges in the past.

Harp had no criminal record that local or state officers are aware of, and they admitted it is possible he was “just along for the ride.”

Investigators are “still trying to piece together what went wrong,” Foster said.

Law enforcement officers from Newberry, Greenwood, Laurens and Saluda counties, the State Law Enforcement Division, along with many others, put in a marathon night of “old-fashioned police work” and have put together some of the picture though.

That picture includes more than a pound of marijuana, physical and forensic evidence, and substantial information from citizens that point toward a meeting to exchange drugs for money. Foster says, “In fact, the armed robbery charge comes from the theft of drugs from Springs and Harp.”

One part that is still being pieced together is how many more people will face charges in the incident. Bookman is believed to have left the scene in a car and was found hiding in a mobile home in the “Wye” section of Prosperity off Pine Street. Foster also said investigators expect to charge the people who “facilitated” the drug deal.

“Without the help of the people, we’d have never solved this case,” Booth commented at a press conference in Newberry this afternoon.

After the Sheriff’s Office responded to the call at Horne’s Store yesterday afternoon, Foster said investigators were facing, “truly a mystery.”

Without any information except two dead bodies and a car to go on, officers hit the roads and telephones and knocked on doors across three counties.

The information officers gained from helpful citizens both at their doors, and those that called in, helped lead them to Bookman in Prosperity. Foster said the forensic and physical evidence is very damning as well.

“It’s just a violent subculture,” Foster said in explanation of the case. “Whether you’re along for the ride, or whether you are actually a participant—it’s a dead end street.”

Bond for Bookman will be set by a Circuit Court Judge because of the murder charge. No time has been set for that occur.

Foster said that the law enforcement response to the incident was critical to the quick success of the investigation.

“I cannot say enough about the overwhelming response we received from our surrounding counties,” said Foster. “Sheriff Davis, Sheriff Booth, and Sheriff Chastain all supplied tremendous manpower support and resources that allowed us to have several different aspects of the investigation going at the same time. We are so grateful to each sheriff and the men and women who worked so hard and long through the night in the cold and snow.”

The sheriff also recognized the State Law Enforcement Division who provided helicopter support, bloodhounds, and crime scene units for the investigation and were a crucial part of this investigation.

Eighth Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace and his staff assisted by keeping an assistant solicitor available for legal advice, and by responding to the scene to be readily available.

Local officers worked hard and long too, with off-duty deputies coming in, and those already in uniform staying through the night and into the day.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at 321-2211 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to “TIPSC plus your message” to CRIMES (274637).