17-year-old charged with killing of two North Carolina high school students Lyric Woods and Devin Clark
A 17-year-old man has been charged with killing two North Carolina high school students who were shot by a quad bike rider on a country road.
The bodies of Lyric Woods, 14, and Devin Clark, 18, were found with gunshot wounds in western Orange County on Sunday after they were reported missing by their families.
The suspect, who was not in custody as of Tuesday afternoon, has not been named and is the subject of a juvenile petition against two counts of first-degree murder, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Woods’ stepfather reported her missing Saturday morning after her family found her bed empty at their Everland home. When her family discovered that the back door of the house was unlocked, they immediately contacted law enforcement.
Clark, the star football player at East Alamance High School, whose family has not seen him since Friday night, was reported missing by his family on Sunday.
“Through the hard work of my investigators, and the assistance of many other law enforcement agencies, we have identified the suspects in this case,” Sheriff Charles Blackwood said.
“We will now work with local, state and federal authorities to apprehend suspects and refer them to the court system.”
“I would like to thank the families of Devin Clark and Lyric Woods for trusting us and the investigation process during this extremely distressing time. I hope that understanding this topic will bring them some comfort as they mourn their loved ones.”
In North Carolina, 16- and 17-year-olds charged with first-degree murder are not automatically charged as adults. However, the district court can transfer the case to a state superior court if there is a reasonable cause or indictment.
Investigators are still awaiting official confirmation of his identity and cause of death from the state medical examiner’s office.
The sheriff added: “While we have yet to have confirmation, in the absence of any other missing persons matching the descriptions of those located, the tragic but logical conclusion is increasingly clear.”
