Family suffers as man's killing remains unsolvedBy Glenn Smith (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Sunday, June 29, 2008
In the warm light of a May afternoon, Phyllis Glover knelt beside her youngest son's grave in Ridgeville, cradling a fresh flower in her hands — a small gift to mark his 25th birthday. Glover offered a prayer and planted the gardenia in the soft earth where she had laid Alex Glover to rest six months before. "I miss him so much." She always counted on her "baby son" who looked out for his mother. She still has a hard time accepting that he's gone. His family knew something was wrong when Glover didn't return home from a night on the town in December. They spent all morning searching for him before North Charleston police found Glover dead in the Studio Plus Hotel on Northwoods Boulevard. Someone shot Glover in the groin, stripped him of his cash and belongings and left him to bleed to death in the hotel room where he had been gambling. Investigators found Glover on a bed, covered in blood and clutching a hotel telephone to his chest, police said. Police said they have a suspect but lack sufficient evidence to make an arrest. Those who know what happened that night aren't talking. That pains Phyllis Glover. "It hurts me so bad when I think about his last moments. They just left him to die," she said. "They need to pay for what they did. God didn't give them the authority to take my child's life." Alexander Lamound Glover grew up in Summerville and North Charleston, the youngest of Phyllis Glover's three sons and two daughters. Relatives recall him as a sweet-faced boy with a passion for football and baseball. He was a nice kid, they said, someone who was always willing to help others. "He was a good boy, always good to his mama," said Earline Bowman, Phyllis Glover's aunt. "He was her backbone." It was Alex Glover who accompanied his mother to church at House of God in Ridgeville most Sundays. He sat proudly in the front row when she gave her first sermon as an associate minister in 2001. When she took ill last year and couldn't work, Alex Glover took her into his home to live with him. He couldn't do enough for his mother and his 3-year-old daughter, Alexia, family members said. Glover earned a living in construction after leaving Fort Dorchester High School at age 17. He became a crane operator and helped build the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Last year, the economy slowed and Glover's employer laid him off. Glover supplemented his savings by gambling while he looked for another job, said his older sister, Charmaine Green. Glover had been an avid gambler since his teens, and he was good. Pool. Dice. Cards. He played them all, and he won. Glover was on his game the night of Dec. 2, making bets and sinking pool balls at a Rivers Avenue nightclub, said his older brother, Antonio Glover, who was there. "Everything was cool," Antonio Glover said. "He was smiling. He was making a lot of money." The brothers left and parted ways around 3 a.m. They talked about meeting up later, but Alex Glover phoned not long after to say he was headed to another spot, his brother said. His family grew worried when Glover didn't arrive home by the next morning and failed to answer his phone. They called around, trying to find him. Antonio Glover finally drove to a barbershop on Ashley Phosphate Road that his brother frequented. The men there had heard rumors that Alex Glover had been shot at the Studio Plus Hotel. Antonio Glover rushed to the hotel and found it swarming with police. His brother's car was parked outside. He pleaded with officer to tell him what happened, to confirm what he already suspected: Alex Glover was dead. Glover apparently went to a hotel room to get in on a dice game and see if his luck could earn him a little more money, his mother said. Instead, someone shot him and took his cash, cell phone and other belongings and left him to die, his family said. Investigators located Gary Andrew Ford, 23, the man who rented the room. Ford had left in such a hurry that he abandoned his shoes and forgot his cell phone in the elevator, police said. Detectives questioned him for hours. Ford told police he fled from the room when he saw guns drawn, but he insists he wasn't there when the shooting occurred, Detective Shawn Patrick said. Police have worked the case from every angle, but no one will say what happened in the room that night, Patrick said. "We have a suspect. We've had a suspect since Day 1," Patrick said. "But it's tough when no one is willing to talk. It's a game that they play, but it leaves us with no probable cause to make an arrest." Ford could not be reached for comment last week. By early Saturday, he was in the thick of his own troubles. Ford was arrested after he reportedly led police on a high-speed car chase from North Charleston to the peninsula. Glover's family is frustrated that no one has been arrested in his killing. They hope someone will come forward to help the police and give them some sense of closure. Phyllis Glover cries herself to sleep most nights. She doesn't know what to tell young Alexia when the little girl asks why they can't visit her daddy in heaven. "She don't understand that her daddy's gone and he ain't coming back," she said. "That's a hurting feeling." Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 30 comment(s)
Posted by Thomas1776 on June 29, 2008 at 3:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ford knows, and the detectives for North Charleston sound slack and like they really don't care.
"Ford told police he fled from the room when he saw guns drawn"
Accessory to murder?
Posted by Confuzzled on June 29, 2008 at 5:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thomas1776, I agree with you. I think Ford knows more than he is telling.
I don't blame Ford for fleeing the room if guns were drawn but he should have immediately contacted the proper authorities...unless he is guilty of something and/or has something to hide ???
Based on the info contained in this article, I seriously doubt this is the first time the murderer(s) have killed someone and it probably will not be their last. With no eyewitnesses to this event and the hail of gunfire ? You can damned well bet someone knows who is responsible.
This case certainly warrants further investigation. The Glover family needs closure and the person(s) responsible for his death need to be brought to justice.
Posted by Perspective on June 29, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thomas - Why do the detectives in North Charleston sound slack? If the only link they have isn't talking after hours of questioning, what do you want them to do, beat the information out of him? If the are going to beat him, why don't they just beat a confession directly from him? That would solve it quicker and would iliminate the need to talk to others. I don't understand why some of the posters on here who seem the most intelligent are so quick to bash the police with no reason. Obviously the victim was a piece of work and his associates were no better. How on earth do you expect them to get too the bottom of it?
I do not know why anyone would not want an illegal gambling house operating in their neighborhood like the ones busted in Mount Pleasant and North Charleston. It sounds like just the activities I want going on next door to me.
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on June 29, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This story gave me chills ... I feel so sorry for this Mother. I saw the high speed chase on Hwy 17 the other night w/ about 15 - 20 marked cars chasing him. What an idiot!
He has to know something if he was trying to get away ... They should keep him w/out bail.
I pray that the Glover family gets closure sooner than later.
Posted by CITYGIRL on June 29, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
MY HEART GOES OUT TO NOT ONLY MRS PHYLLIS BUT TO THE WHOLE GLOVER FAMILY I KNEW ALEX PERSONALLY AND I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HIS SISTER AND BROTHER. I KNOW HOW CLOSE THEY WERE TO ONE ANOTHER AND HOW MUCH HE LOVED THAT LITTLE GIRL. I READ THE OTHER COMMENTS AND HOLD MY HEAD DOWN TO THINK THAT INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT TRYING TO HELP THIS FAMILY GET THRU THIS HARD TIME YOU ARE BLAMING THE POLICE AND EVEN THE COMMENT MADE ABOUT THE VICTIM(ALEX).YES SOMEONE DOES KNOW WHAT HAPPEN THAT NIGHT IN THE ROOM ALEX AND THE PEOPLE WHO KILLED HIM BUT HE CANT TALK SO WHO EVER HAS ANY INFORMATION NEEDS TO COME FORWARD NOT ONLY TO PUT HIS SOUL TO REST BUT TO GIVE MRS PHYLLIS AND ALEXIA A CHANCE TO REMEMBER ALL THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT HIM. TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING AND SAYING THAT THIS SHOULDNT MATTER BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING THAT NIGHT EVERBODY HAS BAD HABITS BUT THAT DOESNT MAKE THEM A BAD PERSON AND HE DESERVES JUSTICE.
Posted by 10216340 on June 29, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel for this young man's family, especially his mother and his young daughter. I can't imagine their grief. However, he was not a "good" boy as the article said......he was breaking the law and paid with his life. It was just a matter of time....as the saying goes......"If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas."
Posted by Perspective on June 29, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not saying he deserved to be hurt or that he doesn't deserve justice. What I am saying is more than one family member was quoted as being aware of what he was doing. He was a hustler. This is one of the things that can happen.
It is the middle of the night and you go to a hotel room in North Charleston to gamble in a dice game after according to family members you have already been shooting pool for money, winning, and smiling? No, nothing bad is likely to happen.
Posted by womanofcolor on June 29, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I knew Alex and he was a GOOD BOY..He did not deserve to DIE! Because he gambled he needed to die is that what u are saying?? Or that made him a bad person???...well would u prefer him robbing or killing like the guys did him? Alex was the type of person that would help anyone in need...He was a GREAT father, brother, cousin, son, and friend...he was an all around good person...I really wish some of u who made those judgemental comments would have had a chance to meet him! May you rest in PEACE, ALEX!! We love you and miss YOU!!!
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on June 29, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Womanofcolor - please read my comment so you know where I stand in all of this. I believe that what others are trying to say is that when you know that you are in with the wrong group as Alex sounded like he was (in which he lost his life for or by), he risked that happening to him. You have a right to choose what you do and who you hang out with. It did not sound like he was hanging out with the right people. I mean, knowing that they kill people??? Hello??
Did he deserve it?? Hell no he did not. No one is saying that here. Just that he knew that he was in the wrong place w/ the wrong people .. he just didnt know that it was the wrong time. :(
No way .. he did not deserve to die and I am sure that he was a good person at heart. Just some of his mistakes that he made in life costed him his life at a really young age and now leaving his little girl behind.
That is what I gather from what everyone is saying here... It is a sad situation. It really is.
Posted by heather107 on June 29, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's "easy" to pass judgement on someone that you DO NOT know just by reading an article. Alex was my friend and he was a good person. Everyone breaks the law and makes wrong choices. [Have "you" ever went over the speed limit? Yes! Should you be killed for it? No!]
Obviously, Ford or someone knows something and they need to come clean!
You have NO RIGHT to call the VICTIM a "piece of work"! It wasn't a "gambling ring" they were participating in.
Everyone is making Alex out to be the bad guy b/c of gambling. Why? It's not the worst thing out there. [Have "you" ever said, "I bet you five dollars you're wrong?" Well, if so, then you too are a gambler!]
REST IN PEACE ALEX! We ALL miss you.
Posted by 10216340 on June 29, 2008 at 6:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Heather107 - breaking the speed limit is not the same thing as gambling. Alex made his choices and, unfortunataley, he paid the ultimate price. This is like someone who commits suicide.....he brought this on himself and has left behind people who are hurt and grieving deeply for him.
As I said before, I feel for his mother and daughter (and other family members) but I could care less that he is gone.....he was a criminal that lived in a dangerous, reckless and irresponsible manner. If he had been arrested for this the taxpayers would have supported him for years while in prison (if convicted and sentenced) or if crippled because of the bullet and unable to work, he would have cost us still more to support him for the rest of his life.
I will never understand why people like Alex choose to do these things but it was his decision. I have no sympathy to spare for people like this.....I'll save that for those he left behind.
Also, if his family and friends don't want to hear stuff like this than they need to keep their story private. These types of incidents are open to public comment once you talk to the P & C and start saying what a "good" person he was.
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on June 29, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Saying "I bet you $5" and not following through .. does not make you a gambler. Some people are going off on others when they didn't even come close to "blaming the victim".
Dang....
He knew what he was into when he was. I did not know him, but everyone should know better. Also b/c you break the law speeding?? You cannot compare speeding to gambling. That just doesn't make sense.
I am sorry to his family that he lost his life. I do hope that the people who did this are found sooner than later.
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on June 29, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The ultimate sad part is ... he had a daughter that he risked also. Now she is paying a price also by not having her daddy around. That was selfish on his part and was old enough to know better.
Does not mean that what has happened was right, but people should know better when they get into something like this that there are reckless people who do not care if you are "nice" or a "good guy" or whatever. That those reckless people will kill you.
He shouldn't have been involved in this type of lifestyle KNOWING the risks.
Posted by heather107 on June 29, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A law is a law; If gambling is a crime then speeding is also a crime and, yes, they can be compared. A speeding car can lose control and injure people... Just because you think speeding is less of a crime than gambling, it doesn't make it right and I was just pointing out that people commit crimes daily and that doesn't make them monsters.
I never "went off" on anyone. I did not address anyone in particular; I was speaking to the general public. Gambling is not that big of a crime considering that some states have legalized gambling. The article didn't mention he was selling drugs in a neighborhood by a school, did it? Nope. He gathered with people he grew up with his whole life who he thought were his friends who got jealous of his winning streak and they are the monsters, not him.
The article also mentioned he had a good job but was laid off and was trying to supplement his income. He obviously wouldn't knowingly put himself in this type of danger; he was trying to make money to take care of his child and mother, etc.
Just because you gamble, doesn't make you less of a good person. There are people who drink legally but are alcoholics and mistreat/abondon their families but at least they don't break the laws, right?
Posted by heather107 on June 29, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, check this out- "4 people wounded in 2 unrelated shootings"
Have those against gambling seen this article yet? "Keith Gadsden, 48, was shot in the torso with a military-style rifle at 11:30 p.m. Friday at his home at 3479 Henry Singleton Road on Johns Island.
Deputies found a ski mask at the scene and seized a number of gambling machines from the location, according to the sheriff's office.
Gadsden was transported to Medical University Hospital, where he was listed in fair condition on Saturday, according to Cynthia Abole of the hospital's public relations staff."
He was 48- old enough to know better.
They found gambling machines- that sounds like an actual gambling ring and not a one night thing.
And, luckily for him, he's alive but he's in the hospital- maybe using tax payers dollars?
Those are all the issues some people were addressing but I didn't notice any of you commenting that story....hmmm?
http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/jun/...
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on June 29, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Heather ~ So are you saying that Alex was safe b/c he was a nice guy?
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on June 29, 2008 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
These statments can be taken the wrong way so just want to say Im not arguing.
I never said that Alex was a monster. Ive always thought of him as the victim, but since you are comparing theories ... here we go, I have one for you.
If your child had a terminal illness and knew that he or she would die ... you were offered medication that knew it would save his or her life, would you take it? OR would you go one complaining about how this was not fair to you and let the child die?
My point being is that you will do what you can to be careful with your life as a person and make the right choices. GAMBLING is not safe ... Yeah, you said it yourself ... "He gathered with people he grew up with his whole life who he thought were his friends who got jealous of his winning streak and they are the monsters, not him"
That sounds sugar coated to me, but I doubt it was that friendly .. I believe he knew what type of people he was gambling with.
There are other ways of making $$ other than doing something illegal. This is just a prime example of what could happen.
If you were a good friend of his, why doesnt someone use his life as an example and talk to children in schools about what happened. Give them a heads up of what could happen if they go that route ... Make something good come out of this.
Posted by kerwin1959 on June 29, 2008 at 8:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
10216340, when you wrote "....but I could care less that he's gone" you exposed yourself to be the heartless person you must be (ever heard of 'Love thy neighbor as you would love yourself'?). Granted, he may have not been running with your apparently elite crowd (and we've discussed on other posts the ridiculous laws SC has regarding gambling), but his habit didn't make him a bad person -- maybe just a good person with a bad habit. Had he been caught instead of killed, he would probably have received only a citation and fine, unless he was in possession or a large amount of cash or illegal drugs.
I hope his family doesn't read your comments. Sometimes it's just better to keep your opinions and/or beliefs to yourself.
Posted by stanish on June 29, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to express my deepest condolences to the Family of Alex Glover. May God continue to strenghten them during this difficult time. I hope and pray that those responsible are found swiftly, and JUSTICE is delivered QUICKLY! With that being said however, I believe Alex put HIMSELF in this unfortunate situation. I understand what it's like to be unemployed and have to subsidize your savings. There are other ways to do this like working as a stock clerk in a grocery store,working at Wal-Mart, Flipping burgers at McDonald's. I believe we are to PROUD to lower ourselves to such menial employment, albeit temporary. We think FAST MONEY is the answer, but look at the deadly results such as being Murdered or seriously Injured. I would NOT put ME or OTHERS in such Grave Danger! Who know's, but if he had taken on job like the one I mentioned, He would probably be ALIVE today! This is from an African_American male point of view.
Posted by 10216340 on June 29, 2008 at 11:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by kerwin1959 wrote: Sometimes it's just better to keep your opinions and/or beliefs to yourself.
Kerwin1959 - that is not what this forum is about. It's about others being able to say what is on their mind. Again, if the family and friends of this young man didn't want to see others opinions in writing than they should keep their story out of the news. It's one thing to have the P&C write a story about a crime but quite another to have the family go on and on about how he was a good boy, etc., etc., etc.,
I can't remember (not saying it hasn't happened but I can't remember) reading a story in this paper of a young man who got in trouble or killed where he wasn't a "good kid", and "getting his life back together", was "going to start back to school", was a "good daddy to his baby"....whatever.
Same old, same old and I am weary of reading about it.
Alex broke the law....I'm sure he didn't think he was going to get killed but he was in a situation where he gambled for more than just money. He gambled with his life.
As for the other part of your post....calling me an elitist. Far from it.....just a hard working individual. When I finished college and couldn't find a job in my field immediately, I took a job at McDonalds making bisquits in the very early morning....and was happy to have a paycheck.
I wasn't too proud to work hard at whatever was available. I didn't go out and break the law just because I couldn't find a job in my career area.
That is what he did wrong....took the easy way, and in the end it cost more than he thought he would have to pay.
Posted by BPFROM843 on June 29, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ok so when is bettin someone 20 dollars on a pool game this dangerous lifestyle that could result in death what he did was hardly wrong I knew him personally and he was a very cool guy he was not violent he just liked to gamble just like millions and millions of people that frequent vegas and atlantic city evey day and im sure yall would go if you could afford it gosh yall are such hypocryts yall forget how much drugs yall used to do in the 80s too bad everyone that committed a crime wasnt locked up then you couldnt look down on them because that would be 90% of the population and you would be in that catagory
Posted by heather107 on June 30, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ChasCarolinaGirl, In no way am I saying b/c he was a good guy he was immune from wrong doings.
People are making statements that b/c he broke the law gambling that he can't be good and basically deserved this.
And that is not the case and all I am doing is sticking up for my friend and trying to open other's eyes to different scenerios and situations.
I can let you know that if any one of you were in line in front of him in the store and didn't have enough to get what you needed, he would spot you & if he didn't have enough to spot you, he'd put something of his back to help you.
Posted by ms_lady2u on June 30, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So What your're saying is that everyone that was involved in the Hananan & Mt.Pleasant sting deserves to die? come on Jack-asses we play Russian roulette everyday with our lives in this day in time, Noone is perfect.for all we know he was looking for new employment,I've seen a lot of these companies discriminate against some of these young black males!(Come on) I know that i'm not the only one that have witnessed this) Only Alex can tell us why he choose that route, and unfortunately he's not here to curve you guys curiosity, so continue to play the guessing game,you wanna be (Perry Mason's )!!
Posted by Girleygirl on June 30, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Aren't yall the same folks that want illegal gambling to be banned and then yall turn around and say that's what he gets for gambling illegally? If he was in a home would it be acceptable or because he was in a hotel that's why you "don't care?"
I did not know Alex, but I know he did not deserve to die unless he was the one killing and robbing.
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on June 30, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Heather ~ I am not saying that he is not a good person. Never thought that in my mind b/c I never knew him.
All that I am saying is that he risked his life being in the lifestyle of gambling. Only because it is illegal, it is more risky b/c people are hiding it more and more. That isnt the point. He was in a group w/ people who cared only about money. That is plain and clear.
If you think that gambling is not risky or could be dangerous, you need to think again b/c look at what happened to your friend, Alex.
You can bring up different scenarios, but what has happened in this case cannot be changed.
Everyone of yall saying "Its nothing betting money on anything"...maybe not, but to some people out there, it clearly is. Look at what happened to your friend. Maybe you guys need to wake up and see what is really happening rather than sugar coating what happened.
Posted by ln1959 on June 30, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by 10216340 on June 29, 2008 at 11:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kerwin1959 - that is not what this forum is about. It's about others being able to say what is on their mind. Again, if the family and friends of this young man didn't want to see others opinions in writing than they should keep their story out of the news. It's one thing to have the P&C write a story about a crime but quite another to have the family go on and on about how he was a good boy, etc., etc., etc.,
Same old, same old and I am weary of reading about it.
Use your own advice, stop reading the paper.
Posted by CITYGIRL on June 30, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I made a comment earlier and just set back and watch as all these people who do not know Alex talk and say what they feel was right. No one is trying to sugar coat what happen to him it was a very tragic thing that happen to a very loving person. Yes he may have been at the wrong place at the wrong time but we all have been at some point in our lives. He didnt deserve to die for what he died for no body deserves to have there life taken away from them because the takers are not god.I personally know Alex and heather107 and I know and feel the same lost that his family and friends feel. His family didnt keep this matter private because like any family that has lost a friend,son,father,brother anyone wants answers and justice for there love ones life. To the people who are making negative comments about him please let him rest in peace and focus on the fact that the same people who killed him are still on the loose and if all they need to take a life is money then everyone is in danger.
We miss and love you Alex and always will !!
Posted by ms_lady2u on June 30, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good for you,12345....or Whateva! you got a job at Mcdonalds
became (Calvin)etc... whocares? Next.....
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on June 30, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well rather than just sitting back and commenting over and over about how good of a person he is (which Im not saying he isn't), why dont you, friends of his, go and make an example of what happened to him by reaching out to others and especially children.
Wow, that is a major run on sentence...
I do hope that they find the person who did this b/c it is sad that they even had the nerve to leave him there to die in the first place, let alone shooting him.
Posted by pdawkins on July 17, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TO, Everyone who made their comments about Alex and the Glover Family, Let us all just pray for them. Because we all may come into a lost of our love ones. We are not to judge him or his family and friends. WE are here to encourage them to pray for them and to hope that justice will reveal. In the word of God,HE SAID THAT THOU SHALL NOT KILL. THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO IT IS.