ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Police have arrested a man on murder charges after authorities found two people apparently shot dead in a car that also had two young children in it.
Authorities on Friday arrested Eric Coley, 42, on two counts of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. He is being held without bond ahead of a scheduled first court appearance on Monday morning.
The children did not appear to be injured. At a news conference on Thursday, Rocky Mount Police Chief Robert Hassell said they were “toddler-age” and had been left in the car through “extreme cold temperatures” overnight and into the early-morning hours, WRAL-TV reported. They were taken to a hospital for evaluation, Hassel said. He added that the children were doing well and had been reunited with family members.
Coley is suspected of killing two people found dead in a car parked at Barnhill Construction on Thursday morning, WTVD reported. Police were called around 6:15 a.m. after employees saw the victims with two small children in the back seat, WITN reported.
[ Children found cold, but alive, in car with dead bodies ]
Authorities identified the two people found dead as Destiny Wiggins, 24, and Devone Brown, 28. A family member said the children found Thursday in the car were Wiggins’ daughters, according to WRAL.
It remained unclear Saturday what led to the deadly shooting. Police continue to investigate.