911 caller reports finding 5 bodies while visiting home, NC cops say. Names released

UPDATE: The victims have been identified as: Alfonza Jeffers, 73, of Clinton; Dagoberto Lopez, 33, of Garland; Hector Salazar Lopez, 39, of Garland; Lamar Williams, 58, of Rose Hill and Jamie Lynn Rowland (also known as Jamie Thompson), 47, of Clinton.

The original story is below.

Five bodies were found just after midnight in a rural North Carolina home, and investigators believe it is a case of multiple homicides, Sampson County Sheriff’s Office reports.

The discovery was made around 12:40 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at a home in the 10300 block of Garland Highway north of Ingold, officials said. Ingold is about 75 miles southeast of Raleigh.

All five people had been shot, according to Lt. Marcus D. Smith of the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office.

No suspect has been identified, officials said.

The department was alerted to the mass killing by a 911 caller who discovered the bodies around 11:40 p.m., he said. “Deputies responded and located five deceased subjects — four males and one female,” he said.

They been identified as: Alfonza Jeffers, 73, of Clinton; Dagoberto Lopez, 33, of Garland; Hector Salazar Lopez, 39, of Garland; Lamar Williams, 58, of Rose Hill and Jamie Lynn Rowland, 47, of Clinton, officials said.

The man who called 911 told WTVD he had just gotten off from work and stopped by the home “with a few beers.” When he stepped inside, he saw “multiple bodies lying on the ground,” then ran out screaming, the station reports.

”Preliminary cause of death appears to be related to gunshot wounds. However, the official causes of the deaths will be released by the Sampson County Medical Examiner.”

This story was originally published October 26, 2023 at 9:51 AM with the headline "911 caller reports finding 5 bodies while visiting home, NC cops say. Names released."