Manhunt for Ricky Ward locks in on Kinston apartment complex
By Brandon Davis
Published in News on April 26, 2017 1:40 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
A North Carolina State Highway patrol helicopter circles above the area in Kinston where Ricky Terrell Ward is believed to be hiding.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
A Lenoir County SWAT team member holds the door open for a robot sent into one of the apartments in Carver Court in Kinston around noon Wednesday as several state and local law enforcement agencies search for murder suspect Ricky Terrell Ward.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
State Bureau of Investigation officers watch the windows and doors of one side of building four of Carver Court in Kinston around noon on Wednesday as apartments are searched for murder suspect Ricky Terrell Ward.
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Lead by the State Bureau of Investigation, SWAT teams from several state and local law enforcement agencies surround building four of the Carver Court housing project in Kinston Wednesday morning.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office received a call this morning that possible murder suspect Ricky Terrell Ward might be in Kinston.
According to a Kinston Police Department press release, officers were called at 3:30 a.m. to Ward's possible location at Carver Courts Apartments on Shine Street.
Kinston Police public information officer Woody Spencer said officers conducted a routine traffic stop where they found Ward in a stolen vehicle. Spencer said Ward ran from police and left the stolen car near the Shine Street and Queen Street area.
The police, the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office, the State Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol searched for Ward on both streets which eventually were barricaded.
The search continued throughout the morning, and the focus prior to lunch time was split between Shine and Queen streets and the area around the Carver Courts Apartments.
The Highway Patrol provided a helicopter which circled overhead as officers searched.
Residents at Carver Courts stood outside to watch the scene unfold.
"We're trying to cut him and block him in," he said.
At 1 p.m. Spencer said officers moved the focus to Carver Courts, but he could not provide any new information on the whereabouts of Ward.
Wayne County Sheriff's Office Capt. Richard Lewis said he, Sheriff Larry Pierce and three deputies went to Kinston after hearing of Ward's possible location at 5 a.m.
The sheriff's office was unable to provide any information regarding Kinston Police's search.
Ward is wanted in Wayne County for attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, discharging a weapon into an occupied property and possession of a firearm by a felon. He is also wanted in Wake County for possession of firearm by a felon and robbery with a dangerous weapon.
He is a suspect in a homicide and other crimes, the release said.
"Anybody with any information, please let us know," Spencer said. "He's a very bad person."
Spencer asks the public to call the Kinston Police Department at 252-939-3160 and the Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-444.
Anyone with information on any crime in Wayne County is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 735-2255. Callers may remain anonymous, and they may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000, if their information leads to an arrest in felony cases.