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February 24, 2002 
 
UPDATE: Robinson Arrested, Brown Still Running
 
A third suspect in the murder of Tyrone Deloatch turned herself in to the Morganton Department of Public Safety Sunday night. 
 
Tiffany Raquel Robinson (left), 24, who's last known address is 102 Jones Street in Morganton surrendered herself around 10:30 p.m. and was immediately taken to the Sheriff's Office to be questioned.

"We're four/fifths of the way home in wrapping this case up," Sheriff John T. McDevitt said. "Now we've got to find Lee Brown, who we think is the actual triggerman."
 
Jerry "Lee" Brown (left), 24, of 1397 Highway 70 West, Morganton is still on the run and should be considered armed and dangerous, McDevitt said.

"It appears Brown and the other suspects took it upon themselves to act as judge, jury and executioner," said McDevitt
 
Two others were arrested earlier for their alleged part in the early morning murder of Deloatch, which occurred at a Kathy Road convenience store parking lot.

Authorities arrested James Edward Hall, 32, of 210 Nix Creek Road, Marion around 6:50 p.m. Sunday night and charged him with murder. Also arrested Sunday night for murder was Torree Bryant Benjamin (below, left), 24, of 3782 Lipscomb Road in Morganton.

Murder suspect James Hall (middle) is escorted into the Sheriff's Office by Det. Robert Beall, left, and Sheriff John McDevitt, right
 
Deloatch, 32, of Jamestown Road in Morganton was found lying near Kathy Road with a gunshot wound to the head. McDevitt described the murder as an "execution type" hit.

"Our investigation shows the four suspects lured Deloatch to Kathy Road Grocery around 4 a.m. under other pretenses," McDevitt said. "He arrived and exited the car
in which he was a passenger in order to speak with the suspects. The four suspects were in another car in the parking lot."
 
McDevitt said Jerry "Lee" Brown approached and confronted Deloatch, then shot him point blank in the head. 
 
Deputies and detectives, along with McDevitt converged on the scene after Deloatch's body was discovered. The case was broken open around mid-afternoon when McDevitt was contacted by an alleged witness to the shooting. 
 
"I was called by a person who witnessed the entire incident," McDevitt said. I met with the eyewitness, who implicated the four suspects." 
 
McDevitt said Deloatch had been interviewed several times regarding some peripheral information in the murder of Donovan "Donnie" Novak Bryant, 40, of 4756 David Bryant Road, Morganton. Bryant was shot to death on December 18th, 2001 after two men reportedly forced their way into his residence, then robbed and shot him. McDevitt stopped short of calling Deloatch the prime suspect in Bryant's murder, however.
 
"We do feel that Deloatch's execution was retaliation for Bryant's murder," McDevitt said. "The suspects had heard rumors on the street that Deloatch was involved in Bryant's killing."
 
One suspect in Deloatch's murder, Torree Benjamin, was reportedly Donnie Bryant's cousin. 
 
Jerry "Lee" Brown is described as a 6'3" black male weighing approximately 240 pounds. He has short black hair and brown eyes.
 
"We are in the process of entering him into the National Crime Information Center computers so all law enforcement agencies can be on the lookout for him," McDevitt said. "He will also go atop our "Most Wanted" list tomorrow...that is if we don't find him tonight."
 
Anyone with any information as to the whereabouts of Jerry Lee Brown is urged to call the Burke County Sheriff's Office at (828) 438-5500. 
 
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