What started as a late-night trip through a Sanford apartment complex ended in gunfire, a chaotic crash and a 17-year-old losing his life. Police say two suspects are now in custody after the teen was fatally shot early Wednesday at The Oaks apartments, then crashed into several parked cars while trying to escape.
Officers say the victim was rushed from the scene but died on the way to the hospital. Investigators are still sorting out what led up to the deadly encounter and are keeping details close for now.
Arrests and charges
Sanford police arrested 19-year-old Naquan Tymarion Clegg around 5 p.m. Thursday at his Brookfield Circle home. He is charged with one count of murder and one count of discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle and is being held in the Lee County Jail without bond, according to ABC11.
A second suspect, a 17-year-old boy whose name has not been released, turned himself in to police around 11 p.m. Thursday. Police say he faces the same charges as Clegg. Both are scheduled for first appearances Friday, where a judge will begin to sort out what happens next.
Shooting tied to crash at The Oaks
Officers responded around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday to Oak Branch Lane at The Oaks Apartments, near U.S. 1, after getting reports of a crash and a person who had been shot, as reported by WRAL.
When officers arrived, they found multiple damaged vehicles and marked off the area with evidence markers. Investigators say the victim had been driving along Oak Branch Lane when he was shot, then lost control and hit several parked, unoccupied cars, including a Lee County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle.
The teen was taken from the scene for emergency medical care and died while being transported to the hospital, according to police.
Juvenile suspect and court timeline
The 17-year-old suspect was taken to the Wake County Juvenile Detention Center and is scheduled for a first appearance Friday. Clegg is expected to appear in Lee County court the same day, according to ABC11.
Police have not shared any further information about what sparked the confrontation or the relationship, if any, between the suspects and the victim. Detectives are continuing to interview witnesses and process forensic evidence from the scene.
Investigation and local context
Sanford police say the investigation remains active and are asking anyone who saw or heard anything in the early hours Wednesday to contact detectives. They are particularly interested in hearing from residents who may have doorbell or security camera footage from the area around Oak Branch Lane.
The killing comes as Sanford has been dealing with a string of recent late-night shootings, including earlier incidents in the Goldsboro neighborhood highlighted in coverage of Twin Goldsboro Shootings. Police have said they are watching the trend closely and are urging neighbors to share any information that could help curb the violence.
How juvenile cases may proceed
Under North Carolina law, a juvenile charged with a serious felony can be transferred to superior court for adult prosecution after a probable-cause and transfer hearing. The rules for that process are laid out in G.S. 7B-2200, which sets timelines and criteria for when a judge may move a case from juvenile to adult court.
Whether that happens can hinge on the juvenile's age, the charges and findings made at those hearings, according to the state code.
What to watch next
Both suspects are set for first appearances Friday, where prosecutors and judges will tackle questions about detention, future hearing dates and, in the juvenile's case, whether transfer to adult court is on the table.
Authorities say more information will be released as the investigation and court proceedings move forward.
