POSTED: 12:16 pm EDT September 20, 2005

Two men charged with the murder of a man at a Pontiac gas station returned to court on Tuesday.

Christopher Eugene Jackson, 18, was scheduled to appear at Pontiac District Court at 1 p.m. for a preliminary hearing. The preliminary hearing for his alleged accomplice, 19-year-old Cordero Landrum, was scheduled for 9 a.m., according to Local 4 reports.

Both men have been charged with murder, carjacking and felony possession of a firearm in connection with the shooting death of 38-year-old David Lee Bingham.

Police said Bingham stopped for gas at a Sunoco station on July 5, while on his way to work, when he was carjacked by two men.

The men appeared to flee the scene in Bingham's truck, but police said Jackson followed Bingham into the station and fired four shots into his chest as he called 911.

"The attendant handed him the phone and dialed 911," said Sgt. William Ware of the Pontiac police. "And as he was on the phone talking to the attendant one of the assailants came in and began shooting."

Bingham was taken to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

If the man had not followed the police recommendation of call 911 and wait for the police to arrive, and had he had is own gun, he may have lived depending on his skill with the gun.

Please know that calling 911 is usually a minimum of 1 minute by the time they answer, transfer you to the correct dispatcher, get your information, and understand the problem. Most of the time, you do not have 1 minute.

How can the police protect us if they cannot be present before the crime is committed?