2nd man arrested in Cumberland County triple shooting that killed 2

HOPE MILLS, N.C. (WNCN) — Two people died and a third was hospitalized after a shooting in Cumberland County late Saturday night, deputies say.

Investigators with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office have made an arrest Wednesday in the shooting.

Deputies say Sterling James Straughter, 20, of Hope Mills was arrested Wednesday.

Xavier Emanuel Bethea,  20, of Fayetteville, was also charged in the incident, officials announced Friday.

Bethea was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of discharging a weapon into occupied property inflicting serious bodily injury, and one count each of attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Straughter faces two counts of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. He is being held in the Cumberland County Detention Center under no bond.

The incident was reported around 11:30 p.m. on March 21, near the intersection of Ajax and Tower drives in the Grays Creek community, according to Sgt. Patrice Bogertey with Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

The victims left the scene and stopped at the Short Stop gas station at 4946 N.C. Highway 87 South. 

The two males, identified as 21-year-old Franklin Monroe and 16-year-old Cameron Emery, were found dead from wounds they suffered during the shooting, which took place south of Fayetteville.

A female was injured and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, Bogertey said.

The female is expected to recover from her wounds, according to deputies.

Investigators said that all three who were shot were “familiar with” the suspects in the deadly shooting.