Herbert Earl Lawrence Jr., a 35-year-old man, died on June 13, 2026, after a Saturday morning shooting at a Dollar General on South White Street in Whitakers, North Carolina. Deputies with the Nash County Sheriff’s Office were called to the store at about 9:55 a.m. after reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they found Lawrence suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Emergency responders began life-saving measures, but Lawrence died from his injuries.
As deputies worked the scene at the Dollar General, the investigation quickly widened beyond the store. Authorities found another wounded man about a half-mile away, near the intersection of Nash and White streets. That man was identified as 32-year-old Wilbert Silver III, who had also been shot and later died from his injuries. Investigators said the two men had been involved in an argument before the shooting, and that the confrontation escalated into both men exchanging gunfire.
The shooting unfolded during business hours, but authorities said no customers were believed to have been inside the store when shots were fired. Deputies said one employee was inside at the time, and officials also reported that one of the two men involved worked at the Dollar General, though available reports did not clearly identify which man was the employee. The sheriff’s office said it was still unclear whether Lawrence and Silver knew each other before the argument.
No separate suspect was announced in the available reports, and no arrests were reported. Based on the sheriff’s office’s account, investigators believed Lawrence and Silver shot each other during the altercation, leaving both men dead. Deputies said there was no ongoing threat to the public, but the case remained under investigation as authorities continued trying to determine what led to the dispute and the fatal exchange of gunfire.
