Detective: Suspect 'knew he would kill'

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Testimony was heard Friday during a hearing for two suspects accused in a double homicide at a Virginia Beach fast food restaurant.

WAVY News’ Anne McNamara was in court for the preliminary hearing for Deandre Leon Dunnaway, 22, and his live-in girlfriend, Cheari Asia-Na Edwards, 19.

Both face first degree murder and robbery charges.

During the hearing, a general manager for Rally’s testified, along with a homicide detective with the Virginia Beach Police Department.

The homicide detective testified both Dunnaway and Edwards confessed to killing Alphonso White, 27, and his brother, Michael A. Johnson, 19 . Police say Dunnaway and Edwards gunned down the victims during a robbery at the Rally’s located at 845 Lynnhaven Parkway.

Police say White's coworkers, Dunnaway and Edwards, planned to rob him as he was counting Rally's cash register at the end of his shift .

"The suspect stated he did know he would have to kill before the robbery would take place," said a homicide detective in court.

When asked if she planned to kill, Edwards told detectives, "She never made the decision he [White] would have to be killed, but said she figured something would have to happen."

Investigators say the two exchanged text messages before killing White and his brother Michael Johnson, who had come to Rally's to get a ride home. Investigators say no masks were used in the robbery, but masks were mentioned in the texts Edwards sent to Dunnaway through another friend's phone.

Police say she wrote: "Put on your mask, come up here and rob Rally's, because they're supposed to give up the money."

And in the narrative of the couple's confession, it sounds like Johnson's life might have been spared, had he not walked through the door of Rally's at the exact time the couple was walking out with the money.   

Police recovered about $1,000 in cash at the couple's apartment.

Rally's employees joined the brothers' family in court. White's newborn son was among the family members in attendance. 

The suspect, Edwards, is currently pregnant.