Lumberton man is
charged with murder
WILMINGTON — A Lumberton man who survived an attempt to kill himself is now charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Wilmington woman last month.
William Bernicki, 48, is accused of bursting into a home in Wilmington on April 25 and shooting 34-year-old Brittany Fullwood several times before shooting himself in the face in what New Hanover lawmen say was a failed suicide.
The murder was at Fullwood’s mother’s home. Fullwood’s 3-year-old son was in the back yard at the time of the shooting, but was found unharmed by deputies shortly after they arrived at the scene. The boy now is in the care of Fullwood’s mother.
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F1 tornado touches
down near Clinton
AUTRYVILLE — At least one person was injured and multiple buildings were damaged when a tornado touched down about 8 miles northeast of Clinton on Tuesday afternoon.
The National Weather Service confirmed Tuesday night that an EF1 tornado with wind speeds up to 110 mph touched down near Autryville in Sampson County at about 4:40 p.m. Tuesday and caused damage for 14 non-continuous miles.
A State of Emergency was declared in Autryville, which sustained significant damage, Tuesday night. Town officials said a nightly curfew will be in effect from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. until further notice.
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Shooting victim
ID’d as a teen
FAYETTEVILLE — Fayetteville police have identified the 17-year-old shot in an apartment complex parking lot Saturday as Andre Allen, who was shot at least once by a stranger armed with a rifle in the area of 129 Longview Drive outside of the Longview Apartments at 4:45 p.m., a police incident report said.
After being shot, police said Allen ran into a wooded area behind the apartments and waited for emergency personnel there.
Anyone with information should call Detective B. Pleze with the Fayetteville Police Department at 676-2596 or Crimestoppers at 483-TIPS (8477).
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Protesters march
around courthouse
WHITEVILLE — A small but enthusiastic crowd marched seven times around the Columbus County Courthouse on Saturday, protesting police brutality in the area.
Charlotte civil rights leader John C. Barnett led a group of around 20 men and women in a protest on the steps of the historic courthouse Saturday morning. Barnett said Friday the event was to draw attention to alleged abuse by law enforcement officers in Columbus County.
From staff and wire reports.