Authorities say the body of Corey Clay, 34, was found by his roommate Tuesday afternoon at a house on Carolina Street.
On Wednesday afternoon, police arrested Terry Clay Edwards, 28, of Fayetteville, charging him with one count of murder and one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon. Police say Edwards is the brother of the man Clay testified against in an attempted murder trial on Monday.
In a written statement, the Wilson Police Department said details are not complete and the investigation is still ongoing.
Court records showed Clay had been a witness Monday afternoon in the trial of Ed Lee Edwards III, one of two men who is accused of the attempted murder of Johnny Williams Jr., who was found across the street from Clay's house last Nov. 26.
Investigators have not said if Clay's testimony was the motive for his murder.
Clay's sister told WRAL that her brother did not want to testify because he did not want to get involved.
"He did it anyway, because it was the right thing to do," Vera Clay said. "I don't think he really thought this was going to happen to him."
A jury found Edwards guilty of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. He was sentenced to 30 to 50 months in prison on Wednesday morning.
Another man charged in the case, Maurice Revis, is still awaiting trial.
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