Wayne County Coverage

Wayne County has millions to reduce opioid abuse, deaths

Wayne County is set to receive more than $11 million to address the opioid crisis over the next 18 years. County leaders have yet to take any formal actions to authorize the spending.

One injured, suspect captured in Wednesday shooting in Wayne County

Police are investigating a shooting in Wayne County Wednesday evening that left one person injured.

Argument in parking lot sparks lockdown at Wayne County middle school

Brogden Middle School was placed on lockdown before school started after two motorists stopped and got into an argument near the school. The lockdown was lifted around 8:30 a.m.

WRAL staff

Damaged graves: Loved ones raise concerns over care at Wayne Memorial Park

Sandy Thompson is upset that her husband's name is misspelled on his gravestone and that there are other problems at Wayne Memorial Park. She wants the park to fix the problems.

Heidi Kirk, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

Loved ones raise concerns over damaged graves at Wayne Memorial Park

Sandy Thompson is upset that her husband's name is misspelled on his gravestone and that there are other problems at Wayne Memorial Park. She wants the park to fix the problems.

One person found dead after fire at Dudley home

One person was found dead inside after firefighters extinguished a mobile home fire in Dudley. The owners of the home were not at home at the time of fire.

One person dead in Friday morning fire in Dudley

The homeowners were not at home at the time of the fire and the body is being sent to the Medical Examiner's Office for identification.

WRAL staff

Program plants SEED for jobs in Wayne County

In Wayne county on Thursday, Gov. Roy Cooper and Wayne Community College announced a big investment good for both business and students.

Wayne County teacher charged with indecent liberties with student

Hunter Grantham, 24, a social studies teacher at Southern Wayne High School, is charged with indecent liberties after an inappropriate relationship with a student, according to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.

Person hit by car, killed while walking on NC 111

A person was hit by a car and killed early Tuesday morning in Wayne County.

Woman killed in crash in Wayne County

A woman died in a crash early Saturday morning in Wayne County.

Four people airlifted from Busco Beach after weekend accidents

Emergency crews in Wayne County say four people were airlifted with serious injuries from the Busco Beatch ATV Park over the weekend. In the wake of the accidents, WRAL News has been pushing the park's new owners about their safety procedures.

911 calls describes terror experienced in Wayne county before deputies kill suspect

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office said the man approached deputies with a shotgun and ignored verbal commands.

Sheriff's Deputy placed on leave after FBI searches his home

A Wayne County deputy has been placed on leave after the FBI searched his home.

Wayne County deputies shoot and kill man who ignored their commands and raised gun at them

Wayne County sheriff's deputies shot and killed a man Monday afternoon after he ignored verbal commands and raised a shotgun at them.

911 call describes terror caller experienced in Wayne County before deputies shoot, kill suspect

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office said the man approached deputies with a shotgun and ignored verbal commands.

WRAL Staff

Tar Heel Traveler: AMC cars in Pikeville

For years, a rusted graveyard of Gremlins and Pacers has been rusting and rotting away at Collier Motors in Pikeville. Now, as the owners attempt to sell the business, they are sell the remaining AMC cars

Tar Heel Traveler, Grady's BBQ in Wayne County

Tar Heel Traveler this week gives a spotlight to a well-loved spot called Grady's BBQ in the town of Dudley.

Crash shuts down I-795 near the border of Wilson, Wayne counties for hours

More than a dozen cars are involved in the crash, including a tanker truck. WRAL spoke with drivers on the interstate who believe the accident was caused by a fire in a nearby wheat field, which made visibility on the road difficult.

Drivers: Smoke from wheat field caused 24-car pileup on I-795

Drivers at the interstate said the accident was caused by a fire nearby, which created poor visibility on the interstate.

Eric MIller, WRAL multimedia journalist

Tar Heel Traveler: Veteran's Rock

It is the day after Memorial Day, and a small church in Dudley has a rock painted by the pastor over a decade ago. It has also become a monument that draws visitors from across the country.

Multi-county chase ends with a crash in Wayne County

Four suspects were taken into custody following a high-speed chase that started in Sampson County and ended in a crash in Wayne County

Four people arrested after multi-county, high-speed chase

According to investigators, troopers are investigating if the high-speed chase had connections to crimes committed out of state.

Eric Miller, WRAL multimedia journalist

Court documents outline death of child, abuse of another at hands of father

Umoja Bryant, 32, was charged with the first-degree murder of a 4-year-old girl and child abuse of a 5-year-old boy. WRAL News learned Monday after his court appearance that he was the father of the children, and was scheduled for a court appearance later this month on another charge.

Goldsboro man appears in court after death of daughter, abuse of son

Umoja Bryant was charged March 3 with first-degree-murder of his 4-year-old daughter and child abuse 5-year-old son. Bryant made his first court appearance Monday, but WRAL News has learned he was scheduled to appear in court on an unrelated charge later this month.

Eric Miller, WRAL multimedia journalist