The brothers stood before a judge in their first court appearance around9:00 Wednesday morning at the Cumberland County Court House. They stood tohear the charges that they face - two counts of first-degree murder each -and were also given a court-appointed attorney.
Police said the shooting started with a traffic stop and ended with thedeath of two of their friends and colleagues.
Flags fly at half-staff. The signs of mourning are evident all around theCumberland County law enforcement center. Mourning the deaths of Lowry and Hathcock. Police said Lowry pulled over the Golphin brothers in the Toyota Camery they were driving.
That's when Lowry found out the car was stolen. Hathcock responded forbackup. Although it's unclear what exactly happened after that, Sheriff"Moose" Butler tried to fill in the blanks.
Police said the Golphin brothers opened fire on the two officers with a Chinese-made SKS assault rifle. The two teens were apprehended about 20miles down the road after crashing their car while trying to get away.Investigatorssaid Lowry was wearing a bullet-proof vest, but Hathcock was not. But since a SKS assault rifle was used, police said the vest didn't make much of adifference.
At the scene on Interstate 95 Wednesday, one flowered cross sits in memoryof two law enforcement officers just doing their job. Lowry's brother Alcame out for the first time to see where his brother was gunned down.
"He just didn't deserve it," Al Lowry said.
The SBI is investigating and it is asking any witnesses to the eventTuesday to call the SBI with any information they may have. The bureau isalso trying to track down where and how two teenagers obtained the SKSassault rifle.
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