A 17-year-old in North Carolina allegedly stabbed his foster parents to death before he took his own life.
Hoke County Sheriff’s Department deputies were dispatched to a residence in Raeford, North Carolina, on Monday, October 27, around 6 p.m., after a call reported a cardiac arrest, the sheriff’s office said in a statement on Wednesday, October 29.
Once deputies arrived at the home, they found two unresponsive people and quickly began a homicide investigation.
The officers determined the victims – who were identified as Joann Nicole Chavis, 46, and Ted Matthew Chavis, 53 – died of “multiple stab wounds,” the sheriff’s office said. Authorities added that they believe the couple’s foster son, identified as “D.P.,” was the suspect of the killings.
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Authorities from the Hoke County and Columbus County Sheriff’s Offices, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Lake Waccamaw Police Department set out to find the suspect and they tracked him to Lake Waccamaw. D.P. then “committed suicide from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound” when he was approached by officers, the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Chavis family, and everyone affected by this tragic incident,” Hoke County Sheriff Roderick Virgil said in a statement. “We are grateful for the assistance provided by our partnering agencies throughout this investigation.”
Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers also reflected on the tragedy in a statement via Facebook on Tuesday, October 28. “Our hearts go out to all those impacted by this tragic situation,” Rogers said.
“We are grateful for the cooperation between agencies and thankful that no innocent lives were endangered. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of communication and support during difficult times.”
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While searching for D.P., the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office said investigators found the teen’s car near the Boys and Girls Homes campus in Lake Waccamaw. After they discovered the suspect was not in the car, police and the Whiteville Fire Department’s Drone Team started searching the campus.
The suspect was eventually found in an unoccupied building, where he ultimately shot himself. The suspect was then taken to a local hospital and he was pronounced dead.
Following the suspect’s death, Boys & Girls Homes issued a statement about the matter.
“On the evening of October 27, there was an incident on Boys & Girls Homes campus involving an off-campus individual. Standard lockdown procedures were followed, and all Boys & Girls Homes youth and staff members are safe,” the organization told WWAY.
“The incident is under active investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation. Thank you to local law enforcement including Columbus County Sheriff’s Department and Lake Waccamaw Fire & Rescue for keeping our staff and, most importantly, our youth safe. We are cooperating with this active investigation.”
