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4 arrested, 1 sought in connection with Chapel Hill homicide

Four people were arrested and a fifth person was being sought Wednesday in connection with a shooting that killed one man and injured another, according to Chapel Hill police.

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Four people were arrested and a fifth person was being sought Wednesday in connection with a shooting that killed one man and injured another, according to Chapel Hill police.

Malik Devon Brown Burnette, 18, and Tanner Cobb, 18, both of Chapel Hill, were shot at about 10 p.m. Tuesday on Jackie Robinson Street near Adelaide Walters Street, police said.

Burnette was pronounced dead at UNC Hospitals, and Cobb was listed in stable condition, according to police.

A friend of Burnette's said the teen had recently gotten mixed up with a rough crowd and bought a gun to protect himself.

"I told him don't do anything stupid, and if you feel like you need to have a gun, then you need to change your circle now," said Infinite Taylor.

Taylor said he remembered a conversation he had with Burnette less than a week ago, urging his friend to straighten out his life. He said Burnette listened.

"I could tell. Talking to me, you could feel in his voice that he was scared. You could really tell in his voice he was scared," he said.

Laquida Shuntae Poston, 26, Renaire Lewis II, 22, both of Shelby, Thomas Oliver, 31, of Gastonia, and Jalen Raekwon Hackney, 19, of Burlington, were charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and accessory after the fact.

Arrest warrants have also been obtained for Denzel Lamont Spikes, 23, of Shelby, who is additionally charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

"I just have this weird void in my body. I don't feel right because, if you ever met him in person, I promise you'd think he was the coolest, nicest person," Taylor said.

Anyone with information about the shooting, or the whereabouts of Spikes, should call the Chapel Hill Police Department at 919-968-2760 or Crime Stoppers at 919-942-7515.

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