Manhunt resumes for armed man, now possible murder suspect
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on April 24, 2017 5:48 PM
Ward
Ward
Update ---- 6:45 p.m.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office now says Ricky Terrell Ward, 33, is a "possible" murder suspect in relation to Sunday night's shooting death of David Demarlo Thompson, 35. Thompson was shot and killed in the back yard of his home at 109 Arrowhead Road.
The command center the sheriff's office has set up inside the Mar-Mac Fire Department remains active at the time of this report, but given the weather, the operation will soon be scaled down.
The Goldsboro News-Argus will remain in contact with law enforcement and further updates will be provided as warranted with new developments.
Initial report ---- The Mar-Mac community is under a red alert from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office as a manhunt for a man who ran from a traffic stop in March got underway this afternoon.
Maj. Tom Effler said the man is also considered a suspect in a Sunday night murder in Dudley and should be considered armed and dangerous.
The area under red alert is an approximate 3-mile radius from Durham Lake Road.
Effler said the man, identified by authorities as 33-year-old Ricky Terrell Ward, of Mount Olive.
He said a red alert means residents in the affected area should stay inside, lock their doors and call authorities if the man is spotted.
Ward allegedly held a man and woman at gunpoint at a Speedway gas station at 1501 U.S. 70 West inside a red Ford Taurus he gave them a ride in March 27.
According to reports from the time, Ward's firearm went off inside the car and the man and woman were able to get out of the car unharmed.
Ward was then spotted by authorities, crashed the car into a treeline and ran from the crash on foot and was not caught.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.