Trio charged in Lee County beatings

Lee County Sheriff Tracy Carter said that two masked men attacked Jeremy Christopher Haire in his yard at 938 Frank Wicker Road around 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 18.

The men struck Haire in the head and stole his wallet and car keys, the sheriff said. He was treated at Central Carolina Hospital for a laceration to his head.

Eight days later, two masked men broke into Kelly Lee Rogers' house at 1919 Pumping Station Road shortly after midnight, Carter said. They tied Rodgers up, beat him in the head with a golf club and stole cash, a cell phone and keys.

Rodgers suffered serious head and face injuries and was treated at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

After six-week-long investigation, deputies arrested three suspects on Thursday – Billy Ray Bullard, of 117 Pine Drive in Vass, Randy Ross Hunter, 34, of 234 Heron Rogus Road in Broadway, and Jeremiah Trinity Gray, of 264 Gilmore Farm Road in Sanford.

Investigators believe that Bullard and Hunter assaulted Rodgers and that Bullard and Gray assaulted Haire. Gray is also accused of conspiracy in the robbery of Haire.

Bullard was charged with attempted first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, conspiracy and two counts each of robbery with a dangerous weapon and first-degree kidnapping. He was given a $250,000 secured bond.

Hunter was charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary and robbery with a dangerous weapon. He was being held under a $200,000 secured bond.

Gray was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, first-degree kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. He was given a $50,000 secured bond.

Hunter was serving two concurrent probation sentences for three felony larceny convictions from April and December, state Department of Correction records show. His criminal record, which dates to 1994, also includes convictions for dealing drugs and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Gray has convictions for dealing drugs and assault inflicting serious injury, DOC records state.