Two arrested, third person sought in Halifax home invasion

Diamante Harrell, 19, of Raleigh, and Jasmine Deshaunda Graham, 20, of Battleboro, were in custody Monday morning and are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

Marcus Manquell Bell, 26, of Rocky Mount, is still being sought.

Bell, Harrell and Graham, along with a 17-year-old, whose name was not released, tried to break into a home on N.C. Highway 481 around 4 a.m. Saturday, according to Halifax County sheriff's officials.

A resident fired at the intruders, killing the 17-year-old, said Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Frazier. The other three fled.

The 17-year-old's grandmother called authorities when he didn't come home and later identified the body, Frazier said.

Capt. L.J. Burch said the youth was out on a weekend pass from the Edgecombe Development Center, which is run by the state Juvenile Justice Department. The center offers academic and vocational courses to help youth in custody re-enter their communities.

Bell, Harrell and Graham face charges of first-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit robbery, discharging a weapon into occupied property and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Burch said investigators expect to file more charges in the case.

Anyone with information on Bell's whereabouts or the case in general should call Crime Stoppers at 252-583-4444. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that solve cases.

Bell is also wanted on unrelated charges for two counts of communicating threats and driving while license revoked.

Graham is on probation for March convictions for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and selling, buying or possessing property with altered ID, according to state Department of Correction records. The crimes occurred in Wake County last October.

Harrell is also on probation for a drug-related convictions in February in Edgecombe County, records show.