Crime
Monkey Junction Walmart employee Mark Paz shot and killed in Wilmington, suspect Dean Newman arrested
Newman attempted to flee but was apprehended by deputies in the Walmart parking lot shortly after the shooting.
A tragic incident unfolded at the Monkey Junction Walmart in Wilmington on Saturday around 6 p.m., where an employee, Mark Thomas Paz, was fatally shot.
The District Attorney for New Hanover and Pender Counties, Rebecca Zimmer Donaldson, confirmed on Sunday that charges of first-degree murder have been filed against the suspect, 27-year-old Dean Michael Newman.
According to statements from authorities, Newman was suspected of shoplifting when the confrontation escalated.
Witnesses report that he pulled out a firearm during the incident, firing shots that tragically killed Paz.
Newman attempted to flee but was apprehended by deputies in the Walmart parking lot shortly after the shooting.
He is currently being held in the New Hanover County Detention Facility without bond, with his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday morning.
Fortunately, no other individuals were injured in the altercation.
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the public is no longer at risk, as Newman was taken into custody promptly.
Crime
18-year-old Kyler Naely charged for the murder in shooting death of 16-year-old Ja’Tycie Williams
An 18-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged in a deadly shooting that occurred in October, which claimed the life of a 16-year-old and injured another.
The incident began on October 6, 2024, shortly after 12:45 a.m., when officers were called to a shooting on I-244 near Yale Avenue.
Upon arrival, they discovered a gray SUV riddled with bullet holes and shattered windows. Investigators determined that seven people were inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
Two occupants of the vehicle suffered gunshot wounds.
One victim, 16-year-old Ja’Tycie Williams, sustained critical injuries and succumbed to them several weeks later. The other victim suffered a minor gunshot wound to the arm and survived.
Preliminary investigations revealed the incident was linked to a fight at the Tulsa State Fair earlier that evening.
Witnesses reported that the altercation, which occurred as the group was leaving the fairgrounds, likely escalated into the highway shooting.
Following an in-depth investigation, Tulsa Police Homicide Detectives identified 18-year-old Kyler Naely as the suspect responsible for the shooting.
On November 19, 2024, Naely was arrested, charged with first-degree murder, and booked into the Tulsa County Jail.
Authorities emphasize that the case remains under investigation and are urging anyone with additional information to contact Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS. Callers can remain anonymous.