EASTOVER, N.C. – Cumberland County authorities are looking for a woman wanted in connection with an attempted robbery that left two people dead in Eastover Sunday morning.
New developments have led Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office detectives to a woman they believe is associated with the persons involved in the shootout.
Detectives are trying to locate Mariah Marie Dahl, 21, of Fayetteville, in order to question her about the shooting.
According to authorities, a woman and a robbery suspect were shot to death at a house in Eastover just after 3:15 a.m. when a homeowner and would-be thief got into a shootout during an attempted robbery.
Deputies responded to 2516 Culbreth Drive in response to a 911 call for a robbery.
The caller also told dispatchers that someone had been shot.
Upon arrival, deputies found two gunshot victims. Both were transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center where they were then pronounced dead.
Travis Melvin, who lives at the home and was the one who called authorities, told CBS North Carolina Sunday afternoon that he shot and killed the robbery suspect during the attempted robbery.
The woman who was killed, Sade Robinson, was Melvin’s girlfriend. Robinson was shot by the robber during the exchange of gunfire, Melvin said.
Melvin said the incident began when he and his girlfriend were arriving home and a robber came from behind them saying “you know what this is.”
The robber pulled out a gun – as did Melvin – and shots were exchanged, he said.
According to authorities, once the shooting stopped, Robinson fell to the floor of the porch. She was mortally wounded and was later pronounced dead at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.
One of the robbery suspects was found a short distance away lying on the ground. He too suffered a gunshot wound and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The suspect has been identified by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office as Brandon Bernard Bowman, 33, of Fayetteville.
Melvin said he’s devastated by the death of his girlfriend. He said he and Robinson were still mourning the death of their newborn daughter, who died a couple of weeks ago.
On Sunday afternoon blood was still visible near the front doorstep of the house.
On Sunday, a neighbor said the area is typically very quiet and added, “no one deserves to die, but thank God the homeowner had a gun.”
The sheriff’s office is requesting that if anyone has information regarding the whereabouts of Dahl, or any other information related to the case, that they please contact the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office at 910-323-1500, 911 or Crimestoppers at (910) 483-8477.