The search is on for 18-year-old Eric Lamont Martin Jr., who investigators say is wanted in a Columbus County homicide and has also been linked to a June 22 double killing in Roanoke Rapids. Authorities describe Martin as armed and dangerous and are warning residents not to approach him. A separate arrest this week, involving 19-year-old Isaiah Napoleon Cooper, has added a new twist to the already tangled multi-county probe.
Columbus County deputies say they responded around June 11 to a home on Berry Lane in Whiteville and found Raphael Gowans suffering from a gunshot wound; he was later pronounced dead. Investigators have identified 18-year-old Eric Lamont Martin Jr. as a suspect and say he is wanted on outstanding first-degree murder warrants, according to WWAY. The sheriff’s office has asked the public to contact authorities with any information.
Double homicide in Roanoke Rapids
Roanoke Rapids police say two people from Columbus County, 15-year-old Mariah Thompson and 19-year-old Patrick Shane Faircloth, were found shot on June 22 at the intersection of Vance Street and West 11th Street. An officer who was already in the area followed a vehicle leaving the scene into the Lincoln Heights neighborhood and detained the driver while detectives continued their investigation, as reported by WECT.
Accessory arrest and alleged escape
Court warrants allege 19-year-old Isaiah Napoleon Cooper helped Martin flee after the Whiteville shooting and was later with him in Roanoke Rapids when Thompson and Faircloth were killed. Cooper was arrested June 30 in Columbus County and is charged with accessory after the fact to murder and resisting an officer. He is being held on a $75,000 secured bond, according to WWAY.
Authorities warn public, ask for tips
Police say Martin should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Roanoke Rapids Police Department at (252) 533-2810, Halifax County Crime Stoppers at (252) 583-4444 or Halifax Central Communications non-emergency at (252) 583-1991. Those numbers are listed on local police and county pages and have been referenced in reporting by WECT, the Roanoke Rapids Police Department and Halifax County Crime Stoppers.
Manhunt widens
The arrest of Cooper and investigators' move to formally connect the Whiteville slaying to the Roanoke Rapids double killing have pushed the probe across county lines, bringing multiple agencies into the hunt for answers. Local outlets and community reporting have tracked the latest turns as detectives work to pinpoint Martin's whereabouts and identify any additional witnesses, per the Lincoln Heights double shooting report and regional reporting.
Legal outlook
Legally, Martin remains at large and would face first-degree murder charges if arrested. Cooper is charged with accessory after the fact and resisting and is being held on bond while prosecutors review the case. Officials say the investigation remains active and are urging anyone with video or information to come forward to help piece together the sequence of events.
