James Sylvester Caroline (Arlington County Police Department)
Tommy Wong
Surveillance image of a suspect in the fatal armed robbery of Tommy Wong, who was killed at his store in Arlington, Va.
Surveillance image of a suspect in the fatal armed robbery of Tommy Wong, who was killed at his store in Arlington, Va.
Surveillance image of a suspect in the fatal armed robbery of Tommy Wong, who was killed at his store in Arlington, Va.ARLINGTON, Va. -
Hours after family and friends gathered to mourn the loss of a beloved Arlington jeweler Tommy Wong who was killed during a robbery last week, police announced an arrest in the case.
Detectives picked up 52-year-old James Sylvester Caroline Wednesday on a probation violation. They expect to charge him soon in Wong's murder.
Police found Wong's body inside Capital Jewelers on July 27. They say Caroline is also a suspect in a June robbery at Bensons Jewelers in D.C.
Surveillance video helped police nab Caroline.
"There are similarities between these two crimes captured on surveillance," Dustin Sternbeck of Arlington County Police says. "Caroline is a suspect in both incidents."
Until police confirm a connection between the two crimes, people working near the stores say they'll be on high alert.
"I feel better, but I'm still scared," a server at the Thai Square restaurant next to Capital Jewelers says.
Wong's family in Herndon is coming to grips with losing the most important person in their lives.
"We're still sad about the loss of my dad, but now we can mourn him, without worrying about whether they catch the person who killed him or not," Vivian Wong says.
"It's such a shame such a good man had to go this way," Desmond Wong says about his father. "He was a great dad and a great husband to my mom. He was perfect."
Ken Stein, who owns Bensons Jewelers, says he's seen Caroline's mugshot, but can't say with certainty that he's the man who robbed him. He wants to see some enhanced surveillance videotape and to talk with police first.
