07/27/10 — Police seek two suspects in two-city robberies

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Police seek two suspects in two-city robberies

By Steve Herring
Published in News on July 27, 2010 1:46 PM

Terrence Anthony Moore

Carletha Sanders

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Kevin Sanders

A third suspect has been identified in last week's two armed robberies -- the first in which a Goldsboro store clerk was shot in the leg, and another, later, in Mount Olive.

All three suspects, two of whom are brothers, are from Wilson where they are persons of interest to law enforcement there.

The two suspects who are still at large are known gang members and one is known to carry a gun.

Goldsboro and Mount Olive police have issued identical warrants for the third suspect, Terrence Anthony Moore, 25, on two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and one count of resist, delay and obstruct.

He is a member of the Crips-Rollin 20's gang and according to police has violent tendencies and carries a gun.

Moore last week eluded capture in Greenville where he has family, Mount Olive police Det./Sgt C.J. Weaver said.

Moore and a female friend drove up to the relative's residence shortly after law enforcement officers had arrived, Weaver said. Moore jumped from the car and ran. Officers lost him during a severe storm that hit the area, Weaver said.

Also still on the loose is Carletha Sanders, 26, who uses the alias Carletha Cotton. Sanders, a convicted felon, is a member of the Crips gang.

Sanders' brother, Kevin Sanders, 27, was apprehended by Mount Olive police Officer Jason Hughes and Wayne County deputies within minutes of the Mount Olive robbery.

He remains in the Wayne County Jail under a $550,000 bond on two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and one count of resist, delay and obstruct.

Warrants for the same charges have been issued for Carletha Sanders.

Weaver said police recovered a .380-caliber silver semi-automatic handgun believed to have been used in the holdups as well as money from both robberies. The gun was found near the roadside in Mount Olive where it had been tossed, he said.

Weaver said he could not disclose which suspect had used the weapon or how much money had been taken because of the ongoing investigation.

The first robbery occurred about 1 a.m. on July 19 when three black males wearing masks and bandanas entered the Save More store, 1903 E Ash St., Goldsboro. One of the suspects had a handgun and demanded money.

After removing the money from the register, the suspect with the handgun shot store clerk Donald Person striking him in the thigh. He then shot at a customer who was not injured.

The suspects fled on foot.

Person was treated and released at Wayne Memorial Hospital.

At 1:50 a.m., the three suspects robbed Handy Mart No. 2 on North Breazeale Avenue at N.C. 55 in Mount Olive. No one was injured.

Mount Olive police Officer Jason Hughes had just pulled into the Roses parking lot across from the Handy Mart when the alarm came in. He saw a vehicle leaving the Handy Mart.

Hughes could see into the store, and when he realized that the clerk appeared unharmed, he began pursuit of the suspects west on N.C. 55. Two sheriff's deputies who were coming into town from the west joined the pursuit near Bert Martin Road.

The suspects' vehicle pulled into the parking lot at the dental offices of Dr. Lane and Associates where they jumped out of the car. Two headed north, while Kevin Sanders ran parallel along N.C. 55 with Hughes in foot pursuit.

The chase ended at Sloan Cabinet Shop when Sanders attempted to hide by crawling under a service vehicle parked at the shop. Hughes waited for a deputy to arrive before attempting to remove the suspect from under the vehicle.

Wayne County Sheriff's deputies responded in Mount Olive with two K-9 units and assisted in the apprehension of Kevin Sanders.

Anyone with information on the other two suspects should call Crime Stoppers at 735-2255 or Weaver at the Mount Olive Police Department at 658-5031, Ext. 104, or Goldsboro Police Department at 580-4242.