Warrants issued for Hamlet shooting suspect

HAMLET — Police have obtained warrants for a suspect in a shooting that sent two people to a hospital early Tuesday morning.

Investigators with the Hamlet Police Department have charged 30-year-old Michael Dequan Johnson, of Hamlet, with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to Chief Dennis Brown.

Johnson is also charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury; one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill; and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

He stands 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 140-170 pounds.

Police said Tuesday that two people, a man and a woman, had been shot multiple times just after 12:30 a.m. in the 30 block of Main Street.

Brown confirmed Wednesday that both victims are African American and are still in serious condition in an undisclosed hospital.

The chief would not give any details regarding the alleged victim related to the third count of attempted murder.

Brown said the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information on Johnson’s whereabouts or about the shooting is encouraged to call Detective Sgt. A. Zeppetella at 910-582-2551 or Richmond County Crime Stoppers at 910-997-5454.

According to state court records, Johnson already has several pending charges: two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon; and one count each of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, intimidating a witness and obtaining property by false pretenses.

Johnson also has several prior convictions, according to records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction.

Johnson served less than two years in prison following a 2011 conviction on five counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and one count of discharging a firearm within city limits.

In 2016, Johnson was convicted of assault on a female.

The following year, he was convicted of possessing stolen goods, forgery, speeding to elude arrest, and obtaining property by false pretenses.

All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.