LUMBERTON — The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for help in solving 12 homicides and one missing person’s case.
The Sheriff’s Office has since January 2019 solved 55 of 67 death investigations. However, investigators are asking witnesses to come forward and help identify suspects.
“Many cases have been solved over the past three (3) years with the assistance of residents from within the county coming forward with much needed information,” said Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins in a prepared statement.
“We are asking for the public’s help in bringing these cases to a close as there is no doubt information that is key to the investigations is being withheld. Many of the cases mentioned had multiple witnesses on the scene. Many of them have not cooperated with the investigation thus causing issues with obtaining enough information to obtain warrants,” he added.
The sheriff asks for witnesses to share information in the cases so they may be solved.
“While we may know who possibly committed these senseless acts, the witnesses must be truthful and forthcoming and not withhold information that is pertinent to bringing a person to justice. We have murderers walking amongst us and the decision of some not to cooperate has to stop,” Wilkins said.
The Sheriff’s Office released the following list of unsolved cases on its Facebook page Thursday.
Body found on Sept. 28
Lumberton resident Eddie Tart IV was found dead on Sept. 28 on the side of the roadway at Woodland Avenue just outside of Lumberton. Deputies responded about 12:49 p.m. to the scene after a report of a body found by the roadway.
Sept. 17 Pembroke shooting
On Sept. 17, deputies responded about 10:29 p.m. to a report of multiple people shot on the 6000 block of Deep Branch Road in Pembroke. Steven Douglas, 34, of Pembroke, was transported to UNC Health Southeastern’s medical center before the deputies arrived on scene. Douglas was pronounced dead upon arriving at the medical center.
July 29 St. Pauls shooting
On July 29, deputies responded to a report of a person shot about 2:40 a.m. at 885 N. Alford Road in St. Pauls. Before deputies arrived on scene, 19-year-old Marqueise Coleman, of St. Pauls, was transported to UNC Health Southeastern’s medical center by private vehicle. Coleman was pronounced dead upon his arrival at the medical center. A reward for $8,000 is being offered for any information leading to probable cause for the issuance of warrant(s).
June 1 Maxton shooting
On June 1, deputies responded about 11:15 p.m. to a report of a person shot at the intersection of Elrod Rd and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Maxton. Deputies found 34-year-old Pembroke resident Alena Hull deceased in her vehicle.
December 2020 Lumber Bridge shooting
On Dec. 24, 2020, deputies responded about 6:13 p.m. to the 2500 block of Lombardy Village Road in Lumber Bridge to a report of two people shot and shots being fired into residences at Lombardy Village Mobile Home Park. Joshua A. Locklear, 32, of Lumber Bridge, was found deceased inside of a vehicle by deputies.
December 2020 St. Pauls shooting
On Dec. 22, 2020, deputies responded about 6:39 p.m. to the 1000 block of Britt Road in St. Pauls to a person shot and two houses shot into. Before deputies arrived, 22-year-old Dennis M. Bain, of St. Pauls, was transported away from the scene by family members. While traveling toward Lumberton, Bain was transferred from the family member’s vehicle to a Robeson County EMS vehicle. Bain was transported to UNC Health Southeastern’s medical center for medical treatment where he died of his injuries.
October 2020 Rowland shooting
On Oct. 10, 2020 deputies responded about 2:59 a.m. to 1552 Purvis Road in Rowland to a report of two people shot. Jamel R. Hendrix, 24, of Lumberton, was transported away from the scene before deputies arrived at the scene. Hendrix died from his gunshot injuries before reaching the UNC Health Southeastern’s medical center.
June 2020 Red Springs shooting
On June 17, 2020, deputies responded about 10:18 p.m. to a report of a wreck and person shot at the 4000 block of Old Lowery Road in Red Springs. The incident occurred when the vehicle was leaving the Thunder Valley Raceway Track. Azell Jamil Houston, 33, of Parkton, was located in the vehicle upon the arrival of the deputies. Houston was pronounced dead at the scene.
June 2020 Hendryx Drive shooting
On June 6, 2020 deputies responded about 9:50 p.m. to a report of a person shot at 91 Hendryx Drive in Red Springs. Deputies found Jovany Contreras, 56, of Red Springs, suffering from a gunshot wound. Contreras was transported to UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill and died from his injuries.
March 2020 Pine Log Road shooting
On March 29, 2020 deputies responded about 8:18 p.m. to a report of a person shot in the area of Norment and Pine Log roads in Lumberton. Before officers arrived at the location, the victim was transported to UNC Health Southeastern’s medical center by a private vehicle. Ushayontella R. Johnson, 24, of Lumberton, later died at the hospital from his injuries.
Saddletree Community Center shooting
On Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, deputies responded about 12:34 a.m.to a report of a person shot at 1031 Mt. Olive Church Road in Lumberton. When deputies arrived at the Saddletree Community Center, Marvin Strickland, 19, of Maxton, was found suffering from a gunshot wound. Strickland was transported to McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, South Carolina where he died from his injuries. The shooting occurred after a fight started between two groups who were attending a party at the location. Strickland was not a part of any of the groups that were fighting.
Pembroke man found dead January 2019
On January 31, 2019, deputies responded about 10:35 p.m. to a report of an unresponsive male on the 2200 block of Prospect Road in Pembroke. The man was located by his girlfriend when she arrived home from work. Jay L. Oxendine, 21, of Prospect Road, in Pembroke was found deceased from a gunshot wound when deputies arrived on the scene.
Person missing since October 2019
James E. Fagan, 57, of Lumberton, was reported missing by his family on Oct. 22, 2019. Fagan was last seen about 4 p.m. on Oct. 6, 2019 in the Lumberton area. Fagan is described as a white male with blue eyes and gray hair. Fagan stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds. He also has “FL” tattooed on his lower left arm and “#1” tattooed on his lower right arm.
Anyone with information about any of the above cases is asked to contact the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Division at 910-671-3170 or 910-671-3100. Anonymous tips also can be given through the following links: http://robesoncoso.org/reach-out/tips/ and http://robesoncoso.org/876-2/.
