Suffolk News-Herald

Two men are charged with pistol whipping and attempting to rob Tyrone Cotton Jr. four days before he was found shot to death last month.

Marcus L. Hamlin, 18, of the 200 block of South Eighth Street, and Charles L. Cutchember Jr., 22, of the 1800 block of Chestnut Street, Portsmouth, are being held in Western Tidewater Regional Jail, said Lt. Debbie George, spokeswoman for the Suffolk Police Department. Bond has not been set for either man.

Hamlin and Cutchember are each facing four felony charges: one count of malicious wounding, one count of attempted robbery and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

On Saturday, Jan. 24, a hunter discovered Cotton’s body on a logging path off Babbtown Road.

&uot;They have not been eliminated as suspects&uot; in the homicide investigation, George said.

Detectives E.C. Harris and C.M. Gonzalez are continuing to investigate the homicide.

Anyone with additional information on the assault or homicide of Cotton is asked to call the Suffolk Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. Callers to Crime Line remain anonymous and never have to testify in court. If a caller’s information leads to an arrest, he is eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.