Second Suspect in Wake Forest Slaying Arrested

Wake Forest police have arrested the second of two brothers accused of gunning down a 25-year-old man who was trying to chase some men away from a house his grandmother owned.

Garvette Wilkerson died Tuesday afternoon after an altercation between 18-year-old Eric Erskine and his 21-year-old brother, Arthur, on 6th Street in Wake Forest. Neighbors said the area is known for drug dealing.

Witnesses say the brothers were part of a group of people loitering in front of a second home owned by Wilkerson's 81-year-old grandmother, Christine P. Murphy. Wilkerson they said, asked the group to leave, which apparently led to a dispute.

Police tell WRAL's Wisdom Martin Eric Erskine was taken into custody after he ran from the scene on foot.

His brother, Arthur, sped off in a green, 1992 Honda Accord. He was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder. Officers made the second arrest after receiving a tip that Arthur Erskine was inside a house off Poole Road. Authorities also are holding and questioning a third man, Carlos Bradford, who was in the home with Erskine.

Investigators tell WRAL they believe Eric Erskine is the man who fired the fatal shot Tuesday afternoon. They said the Erskine brothers moved to Wake Forest from New York about two year ago.

andKerrie Hudzinski