Brittany Willis was planning on attending Peace College this fall.

On Friday morning, police arrested three people in the murder of Brittany Willis and Wilson residents are breathing a little easier.

Shawn Winstead and her daughter, Brittany, live right around the corner from where Willis, 17, was murdered.

“I’ll feel a little bit safer when I go to bed tonight, knowing that I don't have to worry as much about my children, knowing these people are caught now,” Winstead said.

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Early Friday morning, Wilson police arrested Kenneth Meeks, 16, and James Johnson, 18. The two were charged with first degree murder, first degree kidnapping, robbery with a deadly weapon, and first degree rape.

“You always hear about it, you know in another state or town, not in your own neighborhood,” Winstead added.

Police say the two kidnapped Willis from the Brentwood Shopping Center on Monday afternoon, drove her to a construction area a mile away, raped her, and then shot her. The crime led people in the area to take extra precautions.

“I'm just always out with friends if I’m out and just going where there's a lot of people and not really alone with anybody,” Brittany Winstead said.

Kenneth Meeks

Police also arrested Julian Deans, 19. Police believe he assisted the others with an alibi and helped dispose of the weapon.

“The third person was charged with accessory after the fact to murder,” said Sgt. Donald Garris of the Wilson Police Department. “They're all in the Wilson County Jail with their first appearance in court [Friday] morning."

Police began to suspect them Thursday afternoon when Deans and Johnson showed up at the police station asking about a reward. Police say they knew more about the case than was released.

James Johnson

Now police believe Willis' murder was just a random attack. In fact, they think the suspects just saw a moment of opportunity and took it.

“Anyone could have become a victim in a case like this,” Wilson Police Detective Johnny Hendricks said. “It wasn't that there was a predator out there. These people were looking for money based on our investigation. They saw her and it was an opportunity.

Willis was laid to rest Friday morning. Some hope the arrests will help bring closure to her death.

Julian Deans

“Just knowing they're behind bars and no one can come and try to do the same thing to me that they did to her, or to anybody else,” Brittany Winstead added.

Dozens of people from around the community attended Willis' funeral on Friday. They included classmates, city leaders and investigators who worked around the clock to help solve her case.