Double murder at Franklinton home: 1 man in custody, police say

FRANKLINTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- Two men were killed at a home in Franklinton on Friday morning.

Franklinton Police Department said it received a call at around 2 a.m. about a crime at a home on Pine Street just off US-1.

When officers arrived, they had a brief standoff with a 30-year-old man at the home. That man, Christian Webster, was later arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Investigators said they found the bodies of Matthew Johnson,34, and William Hulme, 26, who were Webster's roommates inside the home.

However, neighbors said they were pharmacy technicians at Pruitt Health. That organization confirmed to ABC11 that they were grieving the loss of their coworkers.

Stephanie Poole said she heard the gunshots next door.

"It's very unsettling. That's the only thing I can say."

Poole said she actually called police last weekend when she heard gunshots at 3 a.m. She said those gunshots were from Webster, who was firing at a tree in the backyard of the home.

"Ever since last weekend, I've just been really uneasy," she said.

Court documents show that Webster has a court date scheduled for July 3 related to discharging a firearm in the city.

ABC11 asked the Franklinton Police Department how many times officers had been called to the home, and received no answer. However, the department said a gun was seized from the home and Webster was taken into custody in connection with a previous incident.