Second murder suspect arrested in September deadly shooting case

WSLS News Staff
Published: April 23, 2008

A second murder suspect, wanted in connection for a deadly shooting in Martinsville back in September of 2007, is now in custody.

Martinsville Police say Corey Turner was caught in North Carolina on Tuesday.

Investigators say Marshals originally caught Turner in Atlanta on December 17th, but Turner somehow got loose until Tuesday.  Marshals based in Roanoek developed information about Turner hiding in Burlington, NC.  Marshals in Roanoke contacted the Marshals’ office in Greensboro, NC, who took Turner into custody.

The charges against Turner stem from a shooting at Deep Blue Seafood on September 30th, 2007.  Investigators say Turner and Christopher Mitchell shot Barry Hairston that night, and Hairston later died from his injuries.

Martinsville Police upgraded charges against Turner from Malicious Wounding to first-degree murder after Hairston’s death.

Officers say in addition to the first-degree murder charge, Turner also faces these charges:

• Use of a firearm in the commission of a felony
• Conspiracy to commit murder
• Failure to register as a sex offender

The U.S. Marshals may pursue federal charges against Turner for failing to register as a sex offender.  Under the 2006 Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, it is a federal crime to fail to register as a sex offender, and leave the state where who are required to register.

Turner is being held without bond in North Carolina, and awaiting an extradition hearing.

“We are very glad to have this dangerous fugitive off the streets and behind bars.  I would like to personally thank the U. S. Marshal’s Offices in Roanoke, Va and Greensboro, NC, for their assistance and to all my officers in the Martinsville Police Department for their efforts in this investigation”, said Martinsville Police Chief Mike Rogers in a news release.