Man wanted for questioning in Fayetteville double homicide turns himself in

Family members surrounded Albert Lamont Jackson, 19, of 3521 Seawell St. in Fayetteville, as he surrendered to police. Jackson was wanted for questioning in the murders of Manuel Sampeur, 25, and Pamela Ann Coe, 40, who were both found dead inside a residence at the Cambridge Arms Apartments on Monday.

Jackson, who had active warrants for assault with a deadly weapon, simple assault and communication of threats, was transported to the Cumberland County Detention Center.

The 19-year-old was the second person wanted in connection with the double homicide. Rashawn Javonte Hill, 17, was arrested Tuesday night after firing a shotgun at police.

Authorities arrived at 3611 Pickerel St. at about 11 p.m. to speak with Hill about the killings. As Fayetteville police and Cumberland County deputies entered the home, they heard a shotgun being racked from a rear bedroom. Hill then fired a single round as authorities walked down the hallway, police said. A Fayetteville police detective fired one shot at Hill. No one was hit.

Officers immediately retreated from the home and established a perimeter to ensure Hill did not escape. Hill was taken into custody without incident after authorities convinced him to surrender.

Hill is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon. He was in the Cumberland County jail Wednesday under no bond.

Authorities said they believe Hill is a South View High School student.

Investigators don't believe the killings were random. Someone knocked on the apartment door and started a conversation before shots were fired, they said.

Authorities haven't said how the two victims knew one another or how they knew Hill, but Jamal Cross, Sampeur's best friend, said Coe was like an aunt to Sampeur.

Cross believes the shootings were not random, for Sampeur would never have opened the door for someone he didn't know, he said. Other people were in the apartment at the time, said Cross, who added that someone told him Sampeur was shot in the back.

"They sat there and turned him around," Cross said Tuesday. "They didn't want him to sit there and see who shot him."

Cross also believes Sampuer could have survived if others in the apartment called for help sooner.

"They said they sat there a while and waited to call the ambulance to come and pick him up," Cross said. "If they would have called them earlier, he might have would made it. His body went into shock."

Neither Cross nor police offered a motive for the shooting.

The Barcelona Drive apartment complex has been a well-known trouble spot. The city sued complex owners last year, claiming they were not doing enough to control crime there.

Authorities said Tuesday, however, that apartment management is complying with the city's request to improve security. An iron fence was installed around part of the complex, security cameras were mounted near entrances and signs were posted encouraging residents to report suspicious activity.

Management officials said Wednesday the new security measures were key in capturing Hill. They emphasized Hill did not live at the complex.

"City officials tell us that footage from the state of the art video surveillance cameras we installed last year were instrumental in identifying and apprehending the suspect yesterday," the complex said in a written statement. "Apparently, the man who held the lease to the unit may have allowed another person to live there. He did so without management’s knowledge. That is a violation of his lease, and we have given him 72 hours to vacate the unit."

In the past five years, at least three other homicides have been reported at the 700-unit complex, as have numerous burglaries, armed robberies, assaults, domestic disputes, drug deals and reports of gunfire.