Between Thursday morning and Monday night Wilmington detectives have opened four homicide investigations, which Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous noted was an unusual series of unrelated—though tragic—events.
“These homicides were not related,” Evangelous said Tuesday. “We do believe each of these crimes were targeted acts of violence.
“I hope and pray this is a fluke. But we have to be realists and understand that if it continues…we will extend all efforts,” Evangelous said. “It still requires the community to cooperate with us.”
The first investigation began Thursday morning with the discovery of the body of a 32-year-old man inside an abandoned home in the 4100 block of Princess Place Drive.
“It appears that [the victim] had been there for a period of time prior to him being found,” Evangelous said.
Wilmington police are still working to notify the victim’s next of kin, Evangelous said. Because family has not been notified, the chief did not release the name of the victim—described as a homeless man—at the press conference Tuesday afternoon.
On Saturday night, 38-year-old Frankie Stukes was fatally shot in a parking lot at 420 Raleigh St. in what Evangelous described as “an armed robbery of a video poker establishment that went awry for the suspects.”
Evangelous said police believe Stukes was one of the alleged robbers. While no charges have been filed in connection with the case, Evangelous said “charges will be forthcoming against the accomplices in this case.”
Police opened their third homicide investigation early Sunday morning when a man was found “brutally beaten” at a homeless camp off Carolina Beach Road, Evangelous said.
Donnie Ward, 51, died from the injuries. Two suspects—47-year-old Stacey Brown and 32-year-old Joy Hood—were arrested and charged with second-degree murder after witnesses reported the suspects allegedly beat Ward after an argument, the chief said.
Late Monday night, a home invasion and shooting reported on Queen Street turned into a homicide investigation when one of the victims—34-year-old Robert Scott—died at the hospital.
Police arrested two men, 18-year-old Tyler Greenfield and 17-year-old Kyon Sampson-Jones, Tuesday. Both suspects have been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to jail records.
Evangelous said hundreds of man hours have gone into these homicide investigations so far and assured the public of the city’s relative safety.
“These acts of violence are appalling; however it is not a reflection of our city as a whole. We are still a safe city and we will continue to work to solve each of these cases and bring the offenders to justice.”
Christina Haley is a crime and courts reporter for Port City Daily. Reach her at (910) 772-6337 or [email protected].
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