Suspect charged in May 7 killing
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on May 17, 2016 1:46 PM
Omar Guajardo Acuna
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office arrested two men Monday afternoon in connection with a May 7 shooting death near Mount Olive, according to a sheriff's office press release.
Omar Guajardo Acuna, 32, of 1953 N.C. 403 West, was arrested and charged with the killing.
An acquaintance of his, Patrick White, 34, of 714 Revelle Road, was charged with harboring a fugitive from justice and accessory after the fact to murder, according to the release.
According to sheriff's office reports, Wayne County deputies responded to calls about a shooting at 271 Zion Church Road in Mount Olive on May 7 around 1 p.m.
When they arrived, they found David Vasquez, 47, lying in the backyard with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
After an investigation, detectives were able to secure a warrant for Acuna's arrest. The sheriff's office received information Monday that pointed to Warsaw as to the location where Acuna could be found.
According to the reports, the officers met with Duplin County law enforcement and arrived at the residence around 2:40 p.m.
When they announced themselves, White met them at the door and told the officers that another person named Wilburn was inside the home. He allowed the officers into the home, where they found Acuna in a bed.
According to the reports, when Acuna saw the officers entering the room, he grabbed a .45 caliber handgun from under his pillow. The Duplin County Special Reaction Team, which is a specialized unit designed to respond to high-risk situations such as armed fugitives, stopped Acuna immediately and arrested him without incident, according to the reports.
Maj. Tom Effler, head of investigations for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, said that Acuna never had the opportunity to fire any shots or point the gun at an officer.
"I wasn't there, but I assume they told to him to get his hands up and put the gun down," he said.
Acuna was interviewed and then taken to the Wayne County Detention Center.
He was given no bond for the charge of murder.
Officers also found sufficient evidence to arrest White for accessory to murder after the fact and harboring a fugitive from justice.
He was taken to the Duplin County Detention Center and placed under a $50,000 bond.
Effler said that investigators had discovered a likely motive for the shooting but were not yet ready to release it.
Acuna was set to appear in court today.