Duplin lawmen hunt for killer
By Steve Herring
Published in News on November 15, 2014 10:38 PM
KENANSVILLE -- A Wilmington man who was under electronic house arrest for his alleged involvement in a first-degree murder is being sought in connection with a Wednesday night shooting death near Wallace.
Duplin County Sheriff Blake Wallace said Friday that news outlets are reporting that the victim, Obediah Hester, 27, was a potential witness against the alleged shooter, 36-year-old Nashid Porter of Wilmington.
Wallace, though, said he had not confirmed that.
Porter is considered armed and "extremely" dangerous, Wallace said. Anyone with any information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Duplin County Sheriff's Office at 910-296-2150.
Porter is described as nearly 6 feet tall and 160 pounds.
Wallace said this is not the first time Porter has fled.
The man, he said, also eluded police after a murder in New Hanover -- he was tracked to New York and New Jersey before being captured by U.S. marshals in Fayetteville.
"He is a traveler," Wallace said.
Deputies were called to Wards Road between Harrells and Wallace around 8:15 p.m. Wednesday and, when they arrived, discovered Hester's body.
The sheriff said the man had been shot several times and that an autopsy was being performed Friday to help determine the type of gun that was used.
Wallace said that Hester was from Wilmington, but was working at a poultry plant near Wallace -- that after he got off work Wednesday, he and two co-workers went to the house where Porter was staying.
Porter, investigators contend, convinced the three men to go with him to a location on Wards Road near an abandoned mobile home where he shot Hester.
The two men with the victim were not injured and contacted the authorities.