Crime
Victims killed in Castle Hayne shooting identified
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO) has released further details regarding a tragic domestic violence incident that occurred Sunday morning in Castle Hayne, North Carolina.
Deputies responded to a residence on Bowman Drive around 9:00 a.m. on April 7 following reports of multiple gunshots.
Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered 35-year-old Aurora Rosendo-Ortega deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.
Inside the home, deputies also located 18-year-old Santiago Pacheco-Rosendo, who was suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot injury.
He was transported to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center for treatment and has since been released.
During a continued search of the residence, deputies found Avelino Jaimes-Acuna with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
He was also transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
According to the NHCSO, the investigation determined that Avelino Jaimes-Acuna forcibly entered the home and fatally shot Aurora Rosendo-Ortega before turning the weapon on himself.
The incident has been classified as a murder-suicide driven by domestic violence.
Authorities confirmed that Jaimes-Acuna and Ortega had previously been in a relationship.
In a statement, NHCSO said:
“Avelino Jaimes-Acuna broke into the home and murdered Aurora Rosendo-Ortega before taking his own life. Santiago Pacheco-Rosendo was shot while attempting to intervene and help Aurora Rosendo-Ortega.”
The sheriff’s office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and encourages anyone affected by domestic violence to seek help from local resources.
Crime
Victims Identified in Deadly Robeson County Mass Shooting
Two Dead, 13 Injured in Mass Shooting at Large Party in Robeson County, North Carolina
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. — A late-night party in eastern North Carolina turned deadly early Saturday morning when gunfire erupted, leaving two people dead and 13 others injured, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Burnis Wilkins confirmed that deputies were called to the scene on Dixon Drive, just outside the town of Maxton, at approximately 3:00 a.m. following reports of a shooting at a large outdoor gathering attended by more than 150 people.
When deputies arrived, chaos had already unfolded — witnesses said over 150 individuals fled the area before law enforcement could secure the scene.
Authorities identified the deceased victims as Jessie Locklear and his son Nehemiah Locklear.
Several other victims sustained critical injuries and were transported to area hospitals for emergency treatment.
Sheriff Wilkins stated that, based on preliminary findings, the shooting appears to have been an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the wider community.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from multiple agencies, continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the violence.
Detectives are working to determine the motive and identify all parties involved.
Authorities are urging anyone with information—or anyone who attended the gathering and witnessed the incident—to contact the Robeson County Sheriff’s Investigators at 910-671-3100.
“We know there were many people present when this occurred,” Sheriff Wilkins said. “If you saw something or know something, we need you to come forward to help bring justice to the victims and their families.”