Harnett County investigators link 2 shootings minutes apart; 2 charged with murder, robbery
CAMERON, N.C. (WTVD) -- Harnett County sheriff's investigators say that two shootings that happened minutes apart Sunday afternoon in the same area are connected.
The Harnett County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded at about 3:45 p.m. on Sunday to Scooter Lane in Cameron for a shooting call. Deputies found Damon Bird, 18, with multiple gunshot wounds. He stated he was walking on McDuffie Road near Scooter Lane when a car passed by, and someone inside fired at him.
He was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Less than 15 minutes later, Sanford Police notified Harnett 911 that they had responded to Palm Drive in Sanford for a report of two people shot.
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One of the people shot told authorities that they were shot in Harnett County. A second shooting victim, a 16-year-old, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other victim, 20-year-old Mario Ramos, was taken to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill for treatment.
The Sanford Police Department assisted with the investigation.
Detectives learned that Ramos and the 16-year-old were meeting Bird and Donald Martin at the intersection of McDuffie Road and Scooter Lane. Bird brandished a firearm and demanded items, indicating an attempted robbery. This led to an exchange of gunfire, resulting in Bird and Ramos being injured and the 16-year-old being killed
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On Tuesday, Bird and Martin were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of discharging a weapon into occupied property.
Bird and Martin are being held at the Harnett County Detention Center under no bond.
This is an active investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident should contact the Harnett County TIP line: 910-893-0300, P3Tips or contact the Detective Division at 910-893-0140.
