Neighbor shoots burglary suspect, juvenile also taken into custody

WADE, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate after it said a resident shot a suspect breaking into a neighbor's home.

It happened early Thursday morning. Deputies responded just after 4:15 a.m., to the 4000 block of Church Street for a breaking and entering.

When deputies, they found one suspect, Ahmad Khalif Smith, 25, of Fayetteville, in the front yard with a gunshot wound to his leg.

Authorities said the neighbor, a 77-year-old man, shot Smith as he was leaving the unoccupied house. The second suspect, a juvenile, was caught shortly after trying to run away.

Smith was taken to a hospital with what deputies described as non-life-threatening injuries.

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On Thursday afternoon, a man who answered a door at the targeted home declined to comment on the incident.

A woman who lived in the neighborhood, however, told ABC11 that it is usually a quiet area.

"It was definitely shock. It's a very small community. You know, all of the neighbors, we kind of work together. We watch everybody's stuff. We're all very close-knit. So it's definitely a shock when something like this does happen to somebody because it does not happen very often," said Sarah Rambeaut.

Rambeaut noted that she would appreciate a more consistent police presence.

"Everybody watches out for everybody's stuff," Sarah Rambeaut said. "Like I said, it's a very close-knit town. Everybody knows of everybody, so everybody just kind of tries to protect everybody when it comes to different things."

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office was called to the home where the break-in occurred twice within the past week prior to Thursday morning - once on Sunday and again on Tuesday. According to incident reports, Sunday's call was for burglary/breaking & entering and damage/vandalism, listing more than $1,000 worth of goods stolen, including jewelry and two watches. Tuesday's report was for larceny from a motor vehicle, listing over $200 worth of goods stolen.

ABC11 has reached out to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office to learn whether investigators believe there is any connection between the two prior calls and Thursday's incident.

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Smith was charged with second-degree burglary, conspiracy, felony larceny, and possession of stolen goods. The sheriff's office filed a petition with the Department of Juvenile Justice charging the juvenile with second-degree burglary, conspiracy, felony larceny, and possession of stolen goods.

If you have further information on the case call Crime Stoppers at (910) 483-8477.