By Ivan Pereira
William E. Thornton, 23, of 196-11 Jamaica Ave., was arrested Jan. 2 in connection with the murder of Kareem James at his home on 50 Copiague Ave. in Copiague, the Suffolk County district attorney's office said. James, 25, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head on Christmas Eve after police responded to calls of shots fired, according to authorities.Thornton, who does not have a criminal recording in Queens, according to court records, was arraigned on Jan. 2 on charges of second-degree murder in the First District Court in Central Islip and held without bail, a court spokeswoman said.Police earlier had arrested Thornton's alleged accomplice, Champagne A. Bennett, 22 of 4221 Barnes Ave in the Bronx, in connection with the murder. Bennett was arraigned on second-degree murder charges on Dec. 26, the court spokeswoman said.Suffolk police said the murder was still under investigation.Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
