By Lauren Gregory
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
Copyright 2006 Chattanooga Publishing Company
Authorities arrested Chattanooga firefighter Marvin Nicholson Jr. on Wednesday in the kidnapping and slaying of 15-year-old James Citizen Jr. but would not say what the motive for the crimes might be.
Mr. Nicholson, 33, of 2211 Elmendorf St., Apt. D, is being held at the Hamilton County Jail without bond on first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping charges.
According to Mr. Nicholson’s arrest warrant, authorities found Mr. Citizen’s body near 10330 Sims-Harris Road about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday with “multiple apparent gunshot wounds to his body.”
His family had reported just a half hour earlier that a man had forced him into a car at gunpoint in front of his Dodson Avenue home.
Witnesses said the armed man appeared to be wearing a uniform. Two people later identified the man as Mr. Nicholson in a photo lineup, according to Deputy Ron Rice with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
Mr. Nicholson was taken into custody at his home Wednesday morning without incident, Deputy Rice said. The arrest was made shortly after Mr. Nicholson’s shift at Fire Station 22 on Dayton Boulevard ended at 7 a.m.
Chattanooga Fire Chief Wendell Rowe announced at a news conference Wednesday afternoon that Mr. Nicholson, a senior firefighter employed with the department since December 2000, had been suspended without pay.
“We are exploring our options on his future employment with the fire department,” Chief Rowe said.
He said that he is waiting to see what might be revealed in an investigation conducted by the sheriff’s office.
Chief Rowe said he had not been briefed on specifics but that the crimes seem “totally out of character” for Mr. Nicholson.
Mr. Nicholson was a machine gunner for the U.S. Marine Corps from 1991 until 1994, when he was honorably discharged, according to his personnel file. He also worked as a security guard, a forklift operator and a fitness trainer before becoming a firefighter, documents state.
No disciplinary action has been taken against Mr. Nicholson since he has been with the fire department, according to the file.
Friends of the slain 15-year-old said Wednesday they did not recognize Mr. Nicholson’s name and did not know how the two could have known each other.
Deonta Banks, 14, said he knew Mr. Citizen from Red Bank Middle School, where the two were students until he transferred to Orchard Knob Middle this year.
Roland Reynolds, 16, said he did not believe the kidnapping or shooting was drug- or gang-related.
Mr. Citizen was not in a gang, Roland said. “He stayed to himself.”