Suspect in murder at adult store faces trial

Bill Gang

Thursday, July 25, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

A homeless man who loitered for more than an hour in an adult bookstore before it was robbed has been ordered to stand trial in the clerk's murder.

Wednesday's decision by Justice of the Peace Marley Robinson wasn't unexpected since Chioke Eugene Gadsden was captured on a security video and he later confessed to police.

However, the video at the Pure Pleasure Book Store at 3177 S. Highland Drive did not show Gadsden committing the robbery or firing the fatal bullet into the head of 58-year-old Ronald Jorgensen on April 29.

Gadsden, 22, is set to be arraigned July 31 in District Court on the murder and robbery counts.

Under questioning by Deputy District Attorney David Roger, Metro Police Detective Brent Becker testified that Gadsden admitted he wandered through the store for more than an hour before committing the robbery.

Becker said the defendant told how he stood out of the line of sight of the security camera during the holdup and then tied up the clerk with twine.

But Jorgensen managed to escape the ties and grab a box cutter while the bandit was gathering the proceeds from the store.

Becker said Gadsden bragged of being a martial arts expert and told how he disarmed Jorgensen and used the box cutter to slash the clerk's throat. The victim was then executed.

Jorgensen's bloody body, with a gunshot wound to the back of the head and twine still wrapped around one wrist, was found in the back room of the store.

Based on the videotape of Gadsden wandering through the store, police arrested him six days later at a Tropicana Avenue bar.

The murder weapon and newspapers detailing the slaying were found in his car.

Becker said Gadsden admitted taking $200 to $250 from the adult business.