Thursday 22 September 2022 12:17 AM Fury as prosecutors eye juvenile charges for 17-year-old who gunned down two ... trends now
A North Carolina sheriff investigating the murder of two teenagers found gunned down on a woodland trail has announced charges against a 17-year-old, and said the suspect - when arrested - would be charged as a juvenile.
Lyric Woods, 14, and 18-year-old Devin Clark were last seen on Friday in Orange County, west of Durham.
The bodies of the pair were discovered at the weekend on a woodland trail with gunshot wounds.
On Tuesday, Charles Blackwood, the sheriff, said that the search for the suspect was continuing, but charges had been filed.
They would initially be charged as a juvenile thanks to a 2019 law, which stated that 16 and 17-year-olds would avoid adult charges. If the person is then charged with first degree murder, the case would automatically move to adult courts.
Lyric Woods, 14, (left) and 18-year-old Devin Clark were last seen on Friday. Their bodies were confirmed to have been found on Sunday
Family members from both victims have visited the site where their children were found dead, less than two miles from Woods' home
'Through the hard work of my investigators, along with the assistance of personnel from many other law enforcement agencies, we have identified a suspect in this case,' said Blackwood.
Charles Blackwood, Orange County sheriff
'We will now work with local, state, and federal authorities to apprehend and present the suspect to the court system.'
He added: 'I want to thank the families of Devin Clark and Lyric Woods for trusting us and the investigative process during
