RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — United States Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. and Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton announced the indictments and arrests of two people one year after the murder of five people in Clinton.
On Oct. 26, 2023, Sampson County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a home 10300 block of Garland Highway around 12:41 a.m. regarding a homicide. A 911 caller told dispatchers they had last communicated with one of the occupants of the residence around 11 p.m. on Wednesday. The caller told dispatchers they stopped by the home after leaving work and discovered the bodies.
The five victims were identified as:
- Alfonza Jeffers, 73, of Clinton;
- Dagoberto Lopez, 33, of Garland;
- Hector Salazar Lopez, 39, of Garland;
- Lamar Williams, 58, of Rose Hill; and
- Jamie Lynn Rowland, also known as Jamie Thompson, 47, of Clinton.
Robert Andrew Daquan Williams a.k.a ‘Double Tap Drew’, 31, and Derrick George a.k.a Pete, 35, have been arrested in the murders. They are each charged with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack, conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Acts Robbery, Hobbs Act Robbery, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime.
In addition, Williams is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.
A third person was named in the indictment is charged with illegal gun possession but is not currently facing charges related to the murders.
“The ripple effects of that are still being felt today,” said Easley. He urged the public to step forward with information about violent acts, saying this case was helped by tipsters who came forward with information they had.
If convicted, Williams and George could face life in prison or the death penalty.
“Everybody certainly was anxious. Everybody expects arrests to take place in a short period of time but as you see, it’s taken us a year to get where we are,” said Sheriff Thornton.
Thornton said his department was slow and methodical during their investigation to ensure they had all the right pieces to the case before making an arrest.
The sheriff previously told CBS 17 that the murders appeared to be a targeted attack. The home had been on the department’s radar for some time in connection to potential drug activity.