Multi-county chase leads to charges
By Gary Popp
Published in News on February 4, 2011 1:46 PM
A man accused of attempted murder was arrested Thursday night after a chase that led lawmen from Goldsboro into Johnston County.
Onza Lee Brown Jr., 33, of Goldsboro, was charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder. He is being held in the Wayne County Jail under $1 million bond.
Howard Bennett Harper, 44, of 123 Kathy Lane is in critical condition at Pitt Memorial Hospital following the shooting.
Brown was taken into custody after a nearly eight-mile car chase that began on West Ash Street and ended in the 1000 block of Brogden Road in Johnston County.
At about 5 p.m., Goldsboro police officers responded to a shooting call at 123 Kathy Lane.
Harper was taken by ambulance to Wayne Memorial Hospital, then taken by helicopter to Greenville.
About two hours after a description of the suspect and his vehicle were broadcast, Goldsboro police officer Earl McIntyre spotted a vehicle resembling the suspect's on West Ash Street.
McIntyre pulled over the vehicle, but after he made contact with Brown, the suspect speeded off. The chase headed west, and Brown was eventually pulled over along Brogden Road and taken into custody without incident.
Goldsboro police were assisted by the state Highway Patrol and the Johnston County Sheriff's Office during the chase.
Brown was taken by ambulance to Wayne Memorial Hospital for treatment of self-inflicted cuts to both wrists, lawmen said. He was treated and released before being taken to jail.
In addition to the two counts of attempted first-degree murder, Brown was charged with felony flee and elude arrest with a motor vehicle and reckless driving.