Frederick Baldwin, a 25-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on February 5, 2016, in Laurinburg, North Carolina. The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on Aberdeen Road, near the former Brothers in the Hood market. Baldwin, a resident of Salley McNair Road, was found deceased on the porch of a home in the 700 block of Aberdeen Road.
The Laurinburg Police Department, led by Chief Darwin Williams, quickly identified Antone Jerome Mack, a 28-year-old African American
male from Laurel Hill, as a suspect in the shooting. Mack and Baldwin were believed to be acquaintances, and the motive for the shooting remains unclear. However, it was noted that both families knew each other, adding to the tragedy of the situation.
Mack was arrested on February 8, 2016, at a family member's home. He was charged with murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and discharging a firearm within city limits. Mack's prior convictions included larceny and selling narcotics. He was held without bond in the Scotland County Detention Center.
The case brought together the mothers of both the victim and the suspect, who made a joint plea for an end to violence in their community. Sheila Baldwin, Frederick Baldwin's mother, and Brenda Gibson, Antone Mack's mother, hoped that their united front would send a powerful message to stop the violence in Laurinburg.
The investigation into the motive behind the shooting continued, with the Laurinburg Police Department expressing gratitude to the citizens who provided information and to the various agencies that assisted in the investigation.
