LUMBERTON — Two teenagers are among three people who have pleaded guilty recently to murder in unrelated cases, according to District Attorney Johnson Britt.
Alton Terrel McRae, 19, of 3700 Smith Mill Road, Lumberton, Mitchell Dwayne Lowery, 18, of 41 Reservation Road, Shannon, and James Ezra White Jr., 20, of 1906 E. Seventh St., Lumberton, all entered their pleas of guilty to second-degree murder during hearings in Superior Court.
McRae pleaded guilty on Jan. 9 in the shooting death of Fred Stewart on July 29, 2009, and was sentenced to between 10 years, five months and 13 years, three months in prison. Stewart was shot to death at Turner Terrace, a public housing complex in South Lumberton, after Stewart accused McRae of being a police informant, according to Britt. McRae had been out on bond since his arrest on July 31, 2009.
Lowery pleaded guilty on Jan. 11 in the shooting death of Dennis Locklear, 20, of Rennert, on Oct. 29, 2009, and was sentenced to a minimum of nine years, two months, and 11 years and nine months. Lowery was a juvenile at the time of the murder, but was tried as an adult, according to Britt. The murder occurred at Locklear’s parents’ house after Lowery was accused of stealing a marijuana plant by a third individual. Lowery left and returned to the home with a shotgun and killed Locklear.
White pleaded guilty on Jan. 14 to the shooting death of Dwight Jordan, of Fayetteville, on June 27, 2009, at Turner Terrace and was sentenced to between 19 years, nine months and 24 years, six months in prison. White also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery in the shooting death and, in unrelated matters, he pleaded guilty to a common law robbery charge, breaking and entering and larceny.
But anyway, keep up the good work Percy, this county needs more folks like you who ain't skeered to tell it like it is...