Third suspect arrested, charged in 2018 attempted murder in Chatham County

The Chatham County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of a third person in the 2018 shooting in Bear Creek in the southwestern part of Chatham County.

Xavier Jurod Clayton, 27, of 620 Sunset Dr. in Sanford, was arrested on Sept. 4 in Louisville, Ky. He has since been extradited back to Chatham County.

Officials said Clayton is charged with felony attempted first degree murder, felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, felony discharging a weapon into an occupied moving vehicle, and going armed to the terror of the public. He is currently jailed in the Chatham County Detention Center under a $2 million secured bond and was scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on Oct. 7.

Deputies with the Chatham County Sheriff's Office responded to the 800 block of Rosser Road in Bear Creek on Nov. 6, 2018 in reference to shots fired. Officials said a person was inside a vehicle that had been fired upon but was uninjured.

A vehicle suspected in the shooting ws discovered traveling into Lee County. The driver refused to stop for Lee County deputies and, when he eventually did in Harnett County, three black males fled the vehicle. One was arrested on scene.

Garron Taufeeq Sparks, 25, of 194 Artesian Spring in Dunn was taken into custody on scene and charged with felony attempted murder, felony discharging a firearm into occupied property, felony possession of a firearm by felon, felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and going armed to the terror of the public.

On Dec. 12, 2018, deputies served Jeremiah Devon McDougald, 32, of 289 Eric Thomas Road in Broadway, with identical charges in connection with the incident.