Two more charged in Sellers murder

Ryan Austin Harrelson

Nickolas Wayne Smith

    Two more men have been charged in connection with a New Year’s Day fight with baseball bats that resulted in the death of a Clarendon area man three days later, Sgt. Del Routh of the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office said.
    Arrested Thursday night were Ryan Austin Harrelson, 16, of Winnabow and Nickolas Wayne Smith, 21, of Leland. Both were charged with second degree murder and held at the Brunswick County Detention Center without bond.
    Hartford Talmage Sellers III, 26, of Clarendon, died Jan. 4 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, three days after deputies found him lying unresponsive in the driveway at 6524 Farm Meadows Road in Leland, Routh said.
    Three Leland men were initially charged with assault with a deadly weapon: Boyd Franklin Harrelson Jr., 43, of 6543 Farm Meadows Road; Smith, of the same address; and William Joseph Connolly, 52, of 6579 Farm Meadows Drive.
    Police charged Boyd Harrelson with murder on Jan. 7. Ryan Harrelson, who is Boyd Harrelson’s son, had not been charged in the case before Thursday.
    Connolly told WWAY TV in Wilmington on Jan. 9 that he was a good Samaritan who came to Sellers’ aid as he was attacked, and was not involved in the beating.
    Detectives continue their investigation into Sellers’ death, Routh said Thursday night.