Margie Pipkin, a 72-year-old woman from Erwin, North Carolina, tragically lost her life on July 19, 2021. Margie was an innocent bystander who was shot in the head while stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Bunnlevel and Beaver roads in Erwin. She was running errands at the time of the shooting. The Harnett County Sheriff's Office reported that the shots were fired by "two idiots acting foolishly."
Margie was rushed to the hospital, where her three children remained by her side until she passed away.
The investigation into Margie Pipkin's death led to the identification of two suspect vehicles. The Harnett County Sheriff's Office distributed flyers with photos of the cars believed to be involved in the shooting. The community's tips helped identify Artis Lewis Elliott, a 28-year-old man from Erwin, as the primary suspect. An arrest warrant for first-degree murder was issued for Elliott, who was considered "armed and dangerous" at the time. Elliott eventually turned himself in to authorities and was taken into custody.
Sheriff Wayne Coats expressed his frustration and sadness over the incident, emphasizing that Margie Pipkin was simply going about her daily duties when she was caught in the crossfire. The sheriff mentioned that the shooting was part of an ongoing feud in the area, but Margie was not the intended target. The investigation revealed that Elliott was aiming for someone in another vehicle. The sheriff's office continues to investigate the case, hoping to bring justice to Margie's family and prevent similar incidents in the future.
