JACKSON – Four additional suspects, three from Hertford County, wanted in the Sept. 22 murder of a Woodland man are behind bars here.

Northampton County Sheriff Jack Smith reported three of the newest arrests all occurred on Monday, Oct. 2 with the assistance of the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office, the Ahoskie Police Department, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

The trio arrested Monday were Shirley Williams, age 22, of Murfreesboro; 23-year-old Deshy Obraint Gatling of Ahoskie; and Deshawn Lamont Beverly, age 26, of Cofield.

They were each charged with one count of first degree murder, two counts of first degree kidnapping, six counts of second degree kidnapping, one count of larceny after breaking and entering, one count of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of first degree burglary, one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon, and one count of injury to personal property.

Each was jailed without the benefit of bond on the murder charge. On all other charges, each was jailed under a $750,000 secured bond.

They are scheduled to make their initial appearance on Thursday in Northampton County District Court.

Also on Monday, the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office obtained warrants on 22-year-old Eric Vaughan Jr. of Woodland in the murder case.

Vaughan was already in the Northampton Jail (held under a $250,000 secured bond) following his Sept. 23 arrest on another crime – robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, and assault on a handicapped person. Those charges are linked to a case under investigation by the Rich Square Police Department.

For his alleged role in the Sept. 22 homicide, Vaughan stands charged with one count of first degree murder, two counts of first degree kidnapping, six counts of second degree kidnapping, one count of larceny after breaking and entering, one count of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of first degree burglary, one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon, and one count of injury to personal property.

He is being held under no bond for the murder charge and $750,000 on the other charges.

As first reported by this newspaper’s website on Sept. 25, the Northampton Sheriff’s Office was investigating the shooting death of Edward Phipps, age 49, at a residence in Arrowhead Mobile Home Park, located off NC 35 between Woodland and Potecasi.

Sheriff Smith stated that shortly before midnight on Sept. 22, his deputies responded to the mobile home park in reference to a “shots fired” call.

Upon arrival, deputies discovered that one male, later identified as Phipps, had been shot. Despite efforts by Northampton County Paramedics, who arrived at the scene after it was secured by law enforcement personnel, Phipps died a few hours later as a result of his wounds.

Sheriff Smith said the incident was determined to be the result of a home invasion at the victim’s residence. He summoned the NC SBI to assist in the investigation.

Initially, only one individual was arrested for that murder – Raquan Omar Williams, 22, of Woodland. He was jailed on Sept. 25 under no bond on the charge of first degree murder.

Additionally, Williams was charged with eight counts of first degree kidnapping, three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, and one count each of first degree burglary, larceny after breaking and entering, and injury to personal property.

The kidnapping charges, Smith said, are due to the fact there were at least eight individuals, to include children under the age of 16, at the Phipps residence at the time of the home invasion. They were all held against their will.

Smith noted that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected in the coming days.

In regards to the multiple arrests made thus far, Sheriff Smith thanked the State Bureau of Investigations and the investigators with his department for their hard work and thorough investigation in this case.

He also gave credit to the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office, Ahoskie Police Department, Down East Drug Task Force, Jackson Police Department, Woodland Police Department, Conway Police Department, NC Probation officers, and Northampton County EMS for their assistance.

“Without all the help from the surrounding agencies it would have made this investigation a lot more difficult,” Smith stated.