GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — The family members of a man who was shot and killed inside a Gastonia motel Friday said he was trying to help the man accused of killing him.
Darren Adams is accused of killing Joshua Gilliland inside a Gastonia motel last week.
Joshua Gilliland's family said he came to the Gaston Inn Friday, because two women were visiting Adams, and he had a crush on one of them.
The women decided to leave when they got worried about Adams' behavior. When one of them realized she had left her bag, Gilliland volunteered to go back and get it.
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That was the last time he was seen alive.
During Adams' first court appearance Monday, the victim's parents held each other and wept.
When Adams didn't return their gaze as he left the courtroom, the victim's aunt shouted at him to look at her.
Deputies quickly removed her from the room, and she later apologized to the judge.
Family members said Adams and Gilliland were close. They used to use drugs together until Gilliland stopped six months ago.
"He felt like he could be an example and talked to his friends that were still struggling," Gilliland's aunt, Donna Wilson, said.
Gilliland's family said he was determined to help Adams, one of his closest friends.
"That's basically what got Josh killed. (He) was trying to help somebody," Gilliland's aunt, Barbara Mims, said.
Gilliland's mother said she knew that her son had gone to see Adams last week.
When she couldn't reach her son, she called Adams,who told her that her son went to the store.
Police said he had already died in Adams' motel room from a shot to the head.
Police said after the shooting at the Gaston Inn, Adams pistol whipped a woman and tried to force her to drive him to Charlotte.
She escaped, and police arrested him afterward.