CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Police were searching for two men Friday night after a South Charleston man was killed in his home.

James Andrew Gillespie, 51, was found dead in his home at 2904 Macon St., shortly before 11 a.m., after police received a call from his brother asking them to check on the residence, according to South Charleston Police Chief Brad Rinehart.

On Friday evening, police issued first-degree murder warrants for the arrests of Jimmy Thompson, 19, and Michael Thompson, 18, said South Charleston Detective J.D. Gray. 

The two men are not related, the detective said.

Jimmy Thompson is white and has a "pretty good-sized" red star tattoo under his right eye, Gray said.  Michael Thompson is black. 

The two were "acquaintances" of Gillespie, said Gray, adding that investigators are exploring several possible motives.

According to police, Gillespie counseled drug addicts, alcoholics and homeless people in the community and tried to get them back on the right track.

He even went so far as to let some of the people he helped spend a few nights in his home on Macon Street when they were particularly down on their luck, said South Charleston Patrolman Ryan McFarland.

A man police interviewed in the neighborhood had recently taken up Gillespie's offer of hospitality and had stayed with him last weekend after having a spat with his girlfriend, McFarland said.

Police found blood outside Gillespie's residence and a door that was broken down when they arrived at the house Friday morning. Gillespie was found dead inside the house, but police would not say where the body was found or how he was killed.

Rinehart said foul play was definitely involved, and police are investigating it as a homicide.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Police were searching for two men Friday night after a South Charleston man was killed in his home.

James Andrew Gillespie, 51, was found dead in his home at 2904 Macon St., shortly before 11 a.m., after police received a call from his brother asking them to check on the residence, according to South Charleston Police Chief Brad Rinehart.

On Friday evening, police issued first-degree murder warrants for the arrests of Jimmy Thompson, 19, and Michael Thompson, 18, said South Charleston Detective J.D. Gray. 

The two men are not related, the detective said.

Jimmy Thompson is white and has a "pretty good-sized" red star tattoo under his right eye, Gray said.  Michael Thompson is black. 

The two were "acquaintances" of Gillespie, said Gray, adding that investigators are exploring several possible motives.

According to police, Gillespie counseled drug addicts, alcoholics and homeless people in the community and tried to get them back on the right track.

He even went so far as to let some of the people he helped spend a few nights in his home on Macon Street when they were particularly down on their luck, said South Charleston Patrolman Ryan McFarland.

A man police interviewed in the neighborhood had recently taken up Gillespie's offer of hospitality and had stayed with him last weekend after having a spat with his girlfriend, McFarland said.

Police found blood outside Gillespie's residence and a door that was broken down when they arrived at the house Friday morning. Gillespie was found dead inside the house, but police would not say where the body was found or how he was killed.

Rinehart said foul play was definitely involved, and police are investigating it as a homicide.

"It was gruesome," he said.

Neighbors on Macon Street were shocked to hear that the man they described as "decent" and "stand-up" could be killed, especially in their quiet neighborhood.

McFarland echoed that sentiment, saying that he had gotten only one other call on the street - for an out-of-control child - and that this was one of the better neighborhoods in the city.

One woman, who lives just a few houses from the crime scene, said she has lived there for 10 years and never imagined that a crime like this could take place so close to home.

"I mean, we've had a bike stolen off our porch," she said, "but nothing like this."

The man was killed sometime after 4 a.m. Friday. Police were called to check on Gillespie shortly after 10 a.m., leaving a small window of opportunity for the slaying to have occurred, Rinehart said.

Staff writer Alison Knezevich contributed to this report.

Reach Kathryn Gregory at kathr...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5119.