Billy Craig Carter, a 47-year-old white male from Sanford, North Carolina, passed away on July 5, 2018, at the SECU Jim and Betsy Bryan UNC Hospice Home in Pittsboro. Born on October 21, 1970, in Lee County, he was the son of Billy Joe Carter and Edna Earle Sloan Carter. Billy was an avid hunter and fisherman who loved the outdoors.
The circumstances surrounding Billy Carter's death were tragic.
On June 19, 2018, Billy was involved in an altercation with his neighbor, Mark Christopher Patterson, at Patterson's home on Family Farm Lane. The argument escalated, and Billy was shot by Patterson. He was found lying on the ground by his truck, suffering from a single gunshot wound. Billy was flown to UNC Hospitals, where he succumbed to his injuries on July 5, 2018.
Following Billy's death, the charges against Mark Christopher Patterson were upgraded from assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury to first-degree murder. Patterson, a 46-year-old white male, was held without bond in the Lee County jail. The shooting stemmed from a dispute between the two neighbors, which ultimately led to the tragic loss of Billy Carter's life.
Billy Carter's funeral services were held on July 11, 2018, at the Lemon Springs Baptist Church, with burial following in the church cemetery. He is survived by his parents, wife Stephanie Solis Carter, son Richard Craig "CJ" Carter, daughters JoHanna Grace Carter and Brittnay Nicole Oldham, and sisters Pamela Joan Carter Mason and Penny Elaine Carter. The community mourned the loss of a beloved family member and friend, whose life was cut short by a senseless act of violence.
