— Two people charged with murder following the death of a man who was beaten at the Brier Creek shopping center in northwest Raleigh last month made their first court appearances on Friday.

Police officers responding to a reported assault shortly before 6 p.m. on Nov. 23 found William Edward "Billy" Allison, 65, beaten outside a Papa John's pizza store at 10251 Little Brier Creek Lane.

Jarius Jimil Barnes, 23, of 2537 Dality Drive in Raleigh, and Ladaja Chakure Nelson, 22, of 9230 Count Fleet Drive in Raleigh, were initially charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury in the case.

Police upgraded the charges to murder on Thursday after Allison died.

Longtime friend Cathy Anna described Allison as "a beautiful, beautiful soul."

"When you first meet him, you don’t forget him. He was such a character and had so much life in him," Anna said. "That smile would just light up the room. He was bigger than life."

Witnesses said Allison stepped into a parking spot just as a woman was pulling in.

"They are beating a gentleman who is elderly. They beat him, they beat him," a caller told a 911 dispatcher, noting that a dispute over a parking spot led to the attack.

"They came out of the car and beat him up because he was standing on the parking spot and they were waiting," the caller said. "They just jumped on him and beat him."

Catherine Kim said he was leaving her yogurt shop nearby when Allison was attacked.

"Unconsciously, he stepped down in the parking lot, and then the lady tried to come in, pulled in her car," Kim said. "Billy tried to stop her, but she got really offended, and she got out of the car and yelled at her boyfriend, and the boyfriend ran up to him and started beating him."

Allison was taken to WakeMed for treatment, and he died on Monday.

Dale Tincher, who said he had known Allison for seven years after meeting at a Raleigh church, said Allison was just at the wrong place when he was attacked.

"He was a funny man. He had no enemies. He was a friend to everyone. He would go up and talk to everyone," Tincher said. "We’ve all been in shock since it happened."

Barnes and Nelson remain in the Wake County jail without bond. Their next court date was set for Dec. 19.

Neither has any prior criminal history in North Carolina, other than drug charges against Barnes last year, according to records.

"It’s hard to understand evil and rage and so forth," Tincher said. "It’s difficult, but you’ve got to love people. Our world is very broken, very dark, but love is the only that can overcome that."

"As [Allison] took his final breath, we saw a smile come to his face, and we knew he just met Jesus – and we can’t be mad about that," Anna said. "His legacy is of just love. He loved the Lord. He loved his family. He loved his church family."