Two unreleated murders in Sampson County

SAMPSON COUNTY, N.C.

The first one happened outside The Peter Rabbit Club near Roseboro around 12:38 a.m.

Upon arrival, sheriff's deputies and EMS personnel discovered 26-year-old Linwood Dion Rich of Salemburg with a gunshot wound to the back.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

After interviews with witness at the scene, investigators arrested a suspect.

Louis Highsmith, Jr., 35, is charged with murder in connection to the shooting death of Rich.

In a second, unrelated homicide, the sheriff's office does not have a suspect.

Around 8:37 a.m., the Sampson County 911 call center received a call about a body.

According to the caller, he stopped at a mobile home in Clinton to check on a friend and discovered a deceased person.

Authorities say the male body had an unknown type of head wounds.

Investigators believe the death is a homicide, but the cause of death is not being released until an autopsy has been completed.

The victim's name is being withheld pending notification of family members. No suspect information is currently available.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Sampson County Sheriff's Office.

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