Officials hunt for suspect in murder
By Anessa Myers
Published in News on August 15, 2007 1:46 PM
Wayne County law enforcement officials are still searching for a man who is suspected of pulling the trigger in Monday's fatal shooting on Waynewoods Drive near the Saulston community.
Orbelin Pacheco Mejia, 30, of Pikeville, fled the scene on foot after allegedly shooting and killing Junior Guerra.
Wayne County Sheriff's Office officials believe Mejia might have had help in his escape -- transportation from the scene.
"We are following up on all leads, and we are doing whatever we can to attempt to locate him," Capt. Tom Effler said. "We don't know if he is still in the area, but we have no reason to believe he is out of the area."
Mejia allegedly shot and dragged Guerra after a verbal confrontation between the two and Guerra's brother about Mejia's girlfriend.
Details surrounding the murder are still sketchy, but sheriff's office officials said that Guerra's brother, who was driving a black Dodge Ram truck, chased Mejia in his silver Chevrolet Malibu and crashed into the vehicle.
Mejia's car flipped over because of the impact, and the truck rolled into a nearby yard.
The shooting suspect later climbed out of the overturned car and fled the scene.
Guerra's body was found a few hundred feet away on Waynewoods Drive off of Antioch Road in the Saulston community in front of a neighbor's mailbox.
The murder was number 12 in Wayne County so far this year.
Two murders occurred in Mount Olive, while one happened in Fremont. Four murders occurred in Goldsboro, and five others happened in Wayne County.
Three fatal shootings reported in the city limits of Goldsboro have not been ruled homicide and are not included in the total 12.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is asking for help to find Mejia, but warns residents to act with caution should they locate him. Mejia should be considered armed and dangerous, they said.
Mejia could possibly be injured due to the accident, but officials have no confirmation on the extent of his injuries.
Mejia's family is cooperating with the sheriff's office, providing a picture of him that was taken in 2003.
Officials said that Mejia was identified by this same picture but warn that he might have changed his appearance by adding blond highlights to his hair.
Wayne County Sheriff Carey Winders said that he and his deputies searched Mejia's former residence to try and catch him, but Mejia was not found.
The sheriff issued a murder warrant for Mejia's arrest.
Mejia has several aliases including Nelbar Sanchez Bermudez and the nickname of Timbas.
A local crime fighting organization has offered a reward of up to $1,000 for Mejia's arrest.
The sheriff is asking for the public's help.
"We are asking for the Hispanic community to provide any help or information to apprehend the suspect," he said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Wayne County Sheriff's Office at 731-1481 or Goldsboro-Wayne County Crime Stoppers at 735-2255.
-- Staff writer Lee Williams contributed to this report.