Three people were found shot to death early this morning along a remote dirt stretch of Malinda Road in Robeson County’s Prospect community, turning a quiet rural cut-through into an active homicide scene. The bodies were discovered near the 1100 block, where stunned family members and neighbors quickly gathered as word spread. Investigators remained on-site for hours, combing the roadside for evidence while relatives looked on, visibly shaken.
According to ABC11, which republished reporting from WTVD and credited ABC affiliate WPDE, deputies roped off the dirt road and spent several hours collecting evidence and speaking with people in the community. Neighbors told reporters the Prospect area has seen “a number of shootings and violent crimes” over the years, the station noted.
County homicide rate and weapons trends
Robeson County has one of North Carolina’s highest homicide death rates. The North Carolina Office of Chief Medical Examiner recorded 52 homicide deaths in the county in 2023, a crude rate of 44.3 per 100,000 residents. State data also show firearms were the leading means of homicide in 2023, accounting for roughly 81% of deaths, per the NC Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
Scene and community reaction
Dozens of relatives gathered near the cordoned-off stretch as deputies continued their work, and investigators photographed the site and spoke with residents, ABC11 reported. Officials had not released the victims’ names or additional details by the time that report was published, and the investigation remained active.
