In an emotionally charged atmosphere Tuesday, a Harleyville man was sentenced to life in prison without parole after he pleaded guilty to a double homicide.

Timothy Brooks, 52, of 318 Second Bend Road, Harleyville, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder.

"It is the sentence of this court that you be sent to the state penitentiary for the balance of your life for the shooting of Margaret Dixon. You are to be incarcerated for the balance of your life for the murder of Edward Shaw," Circuit Judge Edward Cottingham said. "These (sentences) are to be consecutive."

On Feb. 3, 2001, Margaret Prezzy Dixon and Edward Shaw were found gunned down in Dixon's home at 335 Curve Inn Road in Vance.

Authorities arrived to find the 45-year-old Dixon had been shot twice in the chest and once in the head. Shaw had been shot once in the head. Both died after being shot with a 9 mm handgun, authorities said.

Investigators identified Brooks as a possible suspect, and police found him the following day at a family cemetery plot near Harleyville.

Brooks surrendered after a standoff that lasted nearly 12 hours and involved negotiators from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office.

Prior to the sentencing, Cottingham warned the nearly 30 relatives representing Brooks', Dixon's and Shaw's families. As the circuit judge said he understood emotions on both sides run deep, he was interrupted briefly by Morris Dixon.

"Emotions run deep? That's my wife!" Dixon shouted before family members could calm the distraught man.

First Circuit Solicitor Walter Bailey said the state and Brooks worked out a plea agreement.

"The negotiations are that the state would not seek the death penalty," Bailey said. "But, instead, we would seek life in prison" on the two murder charges.

"Do you understand the sentence of life in prison?" Cottingham asked Brooks.

"Yes, sir," Brooks replied in a hushed voice.

"You are telling me upon your oath that you are guilty of killing Margaret Dixon by shooting her with a handgun?" the judge asked.

"Yes sir," Brooks said.

"You are stating you killed one Edward Shaw Jr. using a 9 mm handgun and subsequently he died from his wounds?" Cottingham asked.

"Yes sir," Brooks said.

Defense counselor Michael Culler said that not even Brooks understood his actions that fateful day.

According to evidence at the hearing, a mental evaluation revealed nothing that would indicate Brooks could not understand the consequences of his actions.

Culler said it is an unusual situation that finds a former social worker facing murder charges. Brooks' employment record is exemplary, Culler said.

"This is a (work) record that spans 20, 25 years," Culler said. "This is a man who has worked in West Africa in the Peace Corps."

Most of Dixon's and Shaw's family members sat in the courtroom visibly upset. Some outbursts were stifled. Anger boiled over at the man who cut short the life of a member of Rock Hill AME Church who loved flowers and was an air-conditioning installation specialist.

It was a gift from a son that brought Shaw to Dixon's residence. Marki Dixon had purchased his mother a new air conditioner. Shaw was at the residence that day to install the unit.

" Your Honor? I want the court to know there's a family destroyed for this," Marki Dixon said. "Brooks? You'll get what's coming to you."

"To the Shaw family, to my own family, I don't care what I say today. I am sorry; I am sorry; I am sorry; I am sorry," Brooks said.

Marki Dixon was asked to leave the courtroom as outbursts interrupted Brooks' apology to the families.

Marki, who drove from Atlanta to attend the hearing, said his mother would have celebrated her 47th birthday this coming Tuesday. While he wishes he could ease the pain, constant reminders refresh his memory of that horrific day, he said.

"Mother's Day is coming up, and with all these reminders, it's always going to be on your mind," he said. "It's always going to be there."

As Brooks was escorted out of the courtroom, Marki Dixon shouted, "Hey! Tim!" as he held up his mother's picture.

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5516.

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