Gregory Harris Jr., a 22-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on July 25, 2017, in the parking lot of Café 71 in Lumber Bridge, North Carolina. The incident occurred around 1 a.m., and when deputies arrived at the scene, they found Harris lying on the ground near the gas pumps, already deceased. The Robeson County Sheriff's Office Homicide Division immediately launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The investigation revealed
that Harris had met with several other men, including Steven Lewis Lugo-Perez, in the parking lot of Café 71 to discuss a problem involving one of the other males and Lugo-Perez's girlfriend. During a verbal altercation, Lugo-Perez, who was armed, shot Harris. No one else was injured in the incident. Lugo-Perez, a Fayetteville resident, was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree murder for the death of Gregory Harris Jr. He was placed in the Robeson County Detention Center under a $100,000 secured bond.
The case garnered significant attention, and the Robeson County Sheriff's Office conducted interviews and reviewed video surveillance as part of their investigation. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, no witnesses were present at the scene to provide further details about the shooting. The tragic death of Gregory Harris Jr. remains a somber reminder of the impact of gun violence and the importance of thorough investigations in seeking justice for victims and their families.
