James Beauregard


Donald Williams


Sierra Wherry



Convicted murderer kills Robeson County family, deputies say

by Michael Owens

ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WPDE) —
Three people are dead and a 71-year-old grandmother is recovering from multiple gunshot wounds after a shooting Tuesday afternoon just outside of Red Springs in an area known as "The Bottom" in Robeson County.

The Robeson County Sheriff's Office said during a press conference that the grandmother is expected to survive but her son, daughter and family friend were all killed.

James Elijah Beauregard, 45, Donald Kendrick Williams, 51, and Sierra Nicole Wherry, 34, were all found deceased upon the arrival of law enforcement.

"What has happened here is we have basically taken away a family," Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said. "The shooter, Cory Leaks, has killed these folks."

According to the deputies, the suspect 46-year-old Corey Grant Leak was a cousin, who the family was letting stay there so he would not be homeless.

Leak was on parole from a 1993 murder, which he was convicted for in 1996, but after spending 27 years in prison he was paroled. According to the NC Dept. of Adult Correction, the murder, which happened on Dec. 29, 1993, was a result of a dispute over drugs and/or money. The department added that the victim was identified as Arreatta E. Scott.

Since the crime happened before the passage of the Structured Sentencing Act of 1994, his eligibility for parole was based on the previous Fair Sentencing Act guidelines. He was paroled on Oct. 12, 2020, and was due to expire on Oct. 11, 2025.

Deputies said the shooting allegedly took place over a dispute about money.

After receiving a 911 call just after 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, deputies and homicide detectives responded to the scene where witnesses said that Leak fled on a moped.

The sheriff's department put out a request for citizens' help on their social media page. After 4 p.m., a citizen reported spotting the suspect on a moped.

A highway patrol helicopter and SWAT team responded and were able to apprehend Leak without incident.

He’s being charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder and is being held on no bond for the three homicides.

https://abcnews4.com/news/local/take...-county-family