Sheriff: Botched robbery led to La Grange shooting; armed suspect among those killed

One of three people killed early Sunday in a shooting in rural Lenoir County was a masked man trying to rob a group of people, authorities said Monday.

A group had gathered in an outbuilding at 308 W. Queen St. in La Grange to play cards when a "botched robbery" occurred at about 1:15 a.m. Sunday, Lenoir County Sheriff Ronnie Ingram said.

"We are still working to find out if a struggle occurred or if the robbers just came in shooting," Ingram said in a statement.

One of the suspected robbers was identified as Jerrell Marquez Pridgen of Goldsboro, who was found dead at the scene.

"We do know for sure that Pridgen was one of the suspects at the scene along with some others, and their intention was robbing someone. He was armed with a gun, had something covering his face and demanded money from the victims," Ingram said.

Investigators are trying to determine who else was involved in the attempted robbery.

In addition to Pridgen, John Wesley Johnson Jr. of Sumter, S.C., and Roderick Wayne Gillette of La Grange were killed. Johnson was visiting family and was "in control of the property" where the shooting occurred, Ingram said.

A third man at the card game was wounded. Authorities haven't released his name.

La Grange is so remote that deputies on patrol actually heard the gunfire and were headed to West Queen Street when someone called 911 to report the shooting, the sheriff said.

Lenoir County Crime Stoppers has offered a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the others involved in the robbery. Anyone with information that could assist in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444.