Sheriff's deputies in neighboring Robeson County say 19-year-old Austin Hunt of Maxton was fatally shot by Willie James Stanford, 21, of 218 S. Chestnut Drive, Lumberton.
Deputies say Hunt was shot during an attempted robbery.
Deputies responded to a call about a shooting on Deep Branch Road early Sunday morning at 12:39 a.m.
When they arrived they found Hunt, who was not breathing, in the passenger seat of a 2005 Hyundai Sonata which was parked in the yard at Austin Hunt’s residence, according to a sheriff’s report.
Austin’s brother, Jamie Hunt, 25, also of Deep Branch Road, told deputies that he was driving the vehicle down Old Landing Road when someone in a gray pickup truck started shooting at them.
Jamie pulled into Austin’s driveway on Deep Branch Road, where shots continued from the other side of a fence when Austin was fatally struck, according to the report.
Jamie told deputies that the truck also struck his vehicle. Damage to the windshield of the vehicle was $300. Jamie was not injured in the incident, according to the report.
Officials would not release details about what led to the murder charge brought against Stanford.
Stanford is charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to Branch. Stanford has several robbery charges stemming from separate incidents, Branch said.
Stanford, who is 6-foot tall and weighs about 200 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes, authorities said. He has several tattoos including one on his right arm that reads “King of Kings,” one on his left forearm that reads “Jordan,” one on his right hand that reads “Junior” and a tattoo on his upper right shoulder of an unknown symbol.
Authorities said that Stanford should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about Stanford or this crime should call the Sheriff’s Office at (910) 671-3199
Post a Comment
