Ardell Paige Jr., a 33-year-old African American male, was found dead on November 26, 2011, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The incident occurred at a triplex located at 288 Ingram Street, where Paige and another victim, Krystle Price Papile, 26, were discovered tied up and deceased. Three other individuals were also wounded in the attack, one of whom, Gregory Steven Fitzgerald, 37, later died at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.
The other two victims, Stephanie Lashaun Croom, 30, and Bennie Darwin King, 50, were hospitalized with injuries.
The suspect in the case, Shawn Lee Legrand, 44, faced multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, and four counts of first-degree kidnapping. Legrand was apprehended after a police chase that ended in a shootout, during which he was shot by officers. He was hospitalized following the incident.
Investigators determined that the crime was not a random act, as Legrand knew at least one of the victims. It was revealed that Legrand and Paige were cousins. Legrand had been released from prison just five months prior to the murders, having served nearly 19 years for previous convictions, including first-degree burglary, robbery, and assault.
In February 2016, Legrand pleaded guilty to the murders to avoid a potential death sentence. He was sentenced to three consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. The motive for the attack remains unclear, but it was established that Legrand confronted and killed one of the victims before attacking the others as they arrived at the home.
