CHESTER — Flags in Chester County flew at half-staff for Jimmie Dianne Paul, a 59-year-old county employee and wife of a county official who police say was shot to death in her home Tuesday night.

Deputies on Wednesday charged both 17-year-old Clayton Eli Watts — Jimmie Paul’s grandson that she and her husband Mack Paul adopted and raised — and Marquaes Issale Eric Buchanan, 18, of Chester with murder and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. Both were being held without bond Wednesday night at the Chester County Detention Center.

Investigators said they believed Watts and Buchanan “orchestrated” the attack, according to a Chester County Sheriff’s Office news release.

At about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, deputies were called to 1313 Williamsville Church Road, in reference to someone who was unresponsive and bleeding, according to a sheriff’s report.

When deputies went into the house, they found Jimmie Paul, who worked as a jury coordinator in the county’s Clerk of Court office, dead on the kitchen floor, bleeding from her right leg and chest, the report states.

They also found Watts sitting on a chair in the laundry room, the report states.

Chester County Coroner Terry Tinker declared Jimmie Paul dead on the scene. Police took Watts outside to the garage, where they patted him down but didn’t find any weapons.

Sheriff Alex Underwood said that officials found “some items” related to the incident, but he wouldn’t elaborate.

While processing the scene, officials “observed” Watts and decided to take him to the Sheriff’s Office for questioning, said Underwood, who on Wednesday evening said he and investigators were still following leads.

After further investigation, officials arrested Buchanan around 3 a.m., he said.

Underwood said investigators aren’t yet releasing a motive. He did say that deputies are searching for another person connected with the shooting and expect to make more arrests. The State Law Enforcement Division and York County Sheriff’s Office are assisting.

Wednesday morning, family members and county employees gathered at the Pauls’ home. County Supervisor Carlisle Roddey,who’s worked for years with Mack Paul, the county’s building and planning director, called Jimmie Paul a “bubbly” family woman with “a heart of gold.”

“There's a slogan that says ‘bad things happen to good people.’ These are one of them,” he said.

In speaking with Mack Paul on Wednesday, Roddey said he learned that Mack had been near the back of the Pauls’ property at the time of the shooting. He was putting new spark plugs in his motorboat for a fishing trip he planned to take this week.

When he walked back into the house, he found his wife dead, Roddey said.

“He didn’t even hear anything,” he said.

“She didn’t pass away on her own,” Roddey said, explaining why he asked that county flags be lowered at half-staff. “She passed away in a tragic way. We just lost a good person in a tragic way.”

Roddey said he asked Mack Paul if there’s anything he needed. All Mack could say was, “Pray for me.”

Roddey asked the same: “Pray for Mack.”

Chester County Clerk of Court Sue Carpenter said Tuesday was a “happy day” for Jimmie Paul while she was at work. Like always, “she was bubbly.”

“She was the kind of person who loved everyone and wanted everyone to love her,” Carpenter said. “Jimmie was a giving and caring person – Christmas, birthdays, Jimmie was there to give.”

Jimmie Paul worked for the clerk’s office for three years after a two-year stint with the county’s voter registration office. In the clerk’s office, she issued jury summonses, kept track of who reported for jury duty and who didn’t and selected the jury for the trial.

“She was very cordial to everyone,” Carpenter said. “I never heard any complaints. Jimmie will be sorely missed by all.”

Although they didn’t work together directly, Sixth Circuit Court Assistant Solicitor Chris Taylor said he can only recall Jimmie Paul being “really nice and sweet” and especially helpful when the clerk’s office transitioned to using a computer system for its jury pool.

“I don’t think I ever saw her without a smile on her face,” he said.

Neighbor Julie Stover said Jimmie Paul was always a good neighbor.

About two years ago, when Stover’s uncle died, Jimmie and Mack Paul both lent their support, she said.

“If we needed anything, they were right there,” she said.