Two men charged with murdering a Fayetteville restaurant manager faced the victim’s relatives in court Thursday.

Gregory Haney Jr., 24, and Ledarius Jackson, 25, learned in magistrate court they will have a bond hearing next week , Channel 2 Action News reported.

The two are charged with murdering Greg Smith, a night manager at Applebee’s restaurant, who was killed around 3 a.m. June 7.

“It was hard to see how young they were and to realize that they committed a violent, senseless act,” Smith’s cousin Jessayln Dorsey told the news station. “They are young adults themselves…to see them going down this path was really hard.”

Fayetteville police announced Wednesday that two men had been charged. Both men were already in custody elsewhere, Lt. Mike Whitlow said.

Haney didn't know Smith but was a former employee at the same North Glynn Street Applebee's where the shooting occurred, Whitlow said. Investigators believe he and Jackson targeted Smith in hopes he was carrying a night deposit from the restaurant.

Smith, who was not carrying a deposit, was found dead inside his car on the morning he was killed. His fiancee made the discovery after going to the restaurant when he didn’t answer his cellphone.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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