Two arrested, one sought in Benson man's shooting death

Two people have been arrested and investigators are looking for a third in the Thursday shooting death of a Benson man.

James Alexander Graham, 27, is wanted on one count of first-degree murder in the death of Montay Lashawn Murphy, 20, whom Benson police found shot at Coats Circle Apartments near North Honeycutt Street around 9:20 p.m.

Police said Murphy had been shot three times in the torso. He was pronounced dead at Johnston Memorial Hospital.

Investigators did not release a motive for the shooting or further details about the case.

Graham, who also faces two counts each of attempted first-degree murder and shooting into an occupied dwelling, is considered armed and dangerous, authorities said.

He is described as a black man standing about 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing about 180 pounds. He has a facial scar, tattoos on his left arm of the letters “JROC” and “MOB,” a tattoo of a cross on his left hand, a tattoo “JAMES” on his right arm and “ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE” tattooed on his right shoulder.

Anyone with information about the shooting or where Graham might be is asked to contact the Benson Police Department at 919-894-2091 or call 911.

Leslie Dyan Baker, 21, of Smithfield, and Quentine Mondarus Morrisey, 22, of Four Oaks, were also arrested in the case.

Both were in the Johnston County Jail Friday under a $500,000 bond on one count of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, two counts of accessory after the fact to attempted first-degree murder and two counts of accessory after the fact to shooting into an occupied dwelling.