LUMBERTON, NC (WBTW) – An attempted home robbery turned into a shootout that left one suspect lying in the backyard with a gunshot wound to the leg, police said.
When police arrived at a home on Cherokee Street at about 5:53 p.m. on Tuesday, they found the resident still armed with his gun. One of two suspected robbers still was lying in the backyard with what appeared to be a single gunshot wound to his upper leg.
Police say Demarreon McDaniel, 26 of Rowland, NC, and Sterling Herman Hester, 27, of Lumberton, went to the home with the purpose of robbing the tenant.
Once on the property, the men approached the resident in his backyard inside an open garage area. The men pulled a gun and attempted to rob the resident, according to the report.
The resident then pulled a gun out and shot McDaniel in the upper leg, police said. Several shots were fired between the two men, but only one person was hit by gunfire.
McDaniel was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. His injuries were thought to be serious but not life-threatening, police said. He is in stable condition at this time and was flown to another hospital for further treatment.
Upon further investigation, police were able to identify and find Hester. He was taken into custody Wednesday morning and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and felony conspiracy.
Hester remains in the Robeson County Detention Center with a $100,000.00 secured bond. He will have a first court appearance on Wednesday afternoon.
The investigation continues and more charges are expected.
Anyone with information is asked to please call Detectives Robert Nolley or Charles Keenum at the Lumberton Police Department 910-671-3845.