On New Year's Day in Wilmington, North Carolina, a fatal shooting shattered the morning calm. James Bunting, a 53-year-old man, was found with a gunshot wound on Constitution Boulevard. The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m., and despite being rushed to Novant NHRMC, Bunting succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the death of James Bunting quickly identified a suspect. Earl Hardy Jr., a 55-year-old from Wilmington, who was known to Bunting, became the focus of the police inquiry. The relationship between the two men has not been detailed by authorities. While the motive for the shooting remains part of the ongoing investigation, the swift identification of a person of interest suggested a targeted act rather than a random event.
In a rapid multi-state effort, law enforcement was able to locate the suspect. On the very same day as the shooting, Earl Hardy Jr. was apprehended at a rest stop in Virginia. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Virginia State Police collaborated to take Hardy into custody without incident. Following his arrest, the process to extradite him to New Hanover County to face charges in connection with the death of James Bunting was initiated. As the investigation is still active, further details have not been released by law enforcement officials.
