Halifax County murder suspect might be in drag

Herman Lee Edwards, of 119 Madison St. in Roanoke Rapids, is accused of shooting and killing 23-year-old Lorenzo Tann Jr. on Wednesday night outside at a home on Madison Street.

"We're still looking into that motive," Roanoke Rapids Police Capt. Andy Jackson said Monday. 

Edwards, who goes by the nickname Smurf, is also accused in the shooting death of Brandon Tyrone Peterson, 29, in the 1000 block of Maple Street Extension in Weldon on Sept. 18, Halifax County sheriff's deputies said. 

Investigators have arrested Kevin Joseph Braxton, 26, and Adrianne Kay Daniel, 26, in connection with the shooting. Both men are being held without bond and will go before a judge Oct. 12. The Halifax County Sheriff's Office has also obtained a murder warrant for 22-year-old Daniel Staime, who is being held in Nassau County, New York without bond.

Edwards is also wanted on cocaine possession charges in Weldon and a breaking and entering charge in Roanoke Rapids. 

Edwards was charged with attempted murder in 2008 and assault with a deadly weapon in 2000, according to North Carolina Department of Correction records. He served time in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon. 

Anyone with more information about Edwards' whereabouts is asked to call the Halifax County Sheriff's Office at 252-583-8051 or Halifax County Crime Stoppers at 252-583-4444.

Halifax County Sheriff's Office Maj. Bruce Temple said there have been eight murders in Halifax County in a little more than three months. He said Edwards is only connected to the two most recent cases. 

"It's very alarming. I mean, we're all concerned. Anytime you have a rise in violence, we're concerned," Jackson said.