Coats identified Margie Pipkin as the woman who was shot in the head while sitting in her truck at a stop sign Monday morning. Coats said Pipkin was just going about her daily chores when she was shot outside the Cape Fear Conference A Headquarters in Erwin.
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Artis Lewis Elliott, 29, was charged with first-degree murder in the case. Coats said during a press conference that Elliott had not turned himself in as his attorney said he would. However, by 10:30 a.m., Elliott was in custody.
In the shooting, witnesses described seeing two vehicles. Coats explained that Elliott was shooting at another vehicle in the area, and that Pipkin was simply caught in the crossfire.
"It's disturbing. The only thing I can say is at least now...we have warrants and I look forward to putting him in our jail," Coats said.
Coats praised the help of the community. He said that it was tips from the community that helped identify Elliott.
"It's idiots doing these shootings," he said.
Coats said he remains upset about Pipkin's death, but he's optimistic that justice will soon be served.
"I knew the family, it hurt me. I know the whole family, it hurt me really bad to see that," family friend Terry Chance told ABC11 earlier this week.
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