CLARKTON — A man wanted in the shooting deaths of three Clarkton residents in their home early Sunday has surrendered to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.
Taurean Reshaul Johnson, 36, of Clarkton, is being held without bond after making his first court appearance on Monday through a video conference. He is charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
According to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, Katrice Lacole Murchison, 30; Ronnie Lebert Kelly, 27; and Guy Lennon Barden Jr., 60, were shot to death inside their single-wide mobile home at 71 Tina Lane. A fourth person, 69-year-old Hazel Epps, was shot but survived.
Tina’s Lane, which is on the western side of town, is a cul-de-sac off N.C. 211.
Judge Scott Ussery appointed James Payne as Johnson’s public defender.
There is the possibility of capital charges, pending review by the district attorney. The prosecution was represented by Assistant District Attorney Adam Whitaker.
Ussery said Johnson’s next hearing date will be March 16 for probable cause.
The Bladen County 911 Center received a call about 1:30 a.m. Sunday that a man had entered the home on Tina Lane and shot several people and fled.
