On a late summer night in Laurinburg, North Carolina, the life of 46-year-old Ricky Swindell was tragically cut short. On August 29, 2026, Swindell was at the Xplicit Sports Bar and Grill on McColl Road when a shooting occurred. Law enforcement officers responded to a call about the shooting at approximately 12:47 a.m. and discovered Swindell inside the establishment with a gunshot wound to his chest.
He was quickly transported to Scotland Memorial Hospital, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the death of Ricky Swindell swiftly led police to identify a suspect. Michael Anthony Robinson Jr., a 36-year-old man from the nearby town of Wagram, was identified as the alleged shooter. In the days following the incident, the Laurinburg Police Department secured warrants for Robinson's arrest on multiple charges, including first-degree murder. The other charges were for discharging a firearm within an enclosure to incite fear, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and going armed to the terror of the public. Initially, Robinson was at large, and law enforcement had warned the public that he was considered armed and dangerous, cautioning that anyone found to be assisting him in evading arrest would face charges.
After a period of searching, Michael Anthony Robinson Jr. surrendered to law enforcement, according to a police announcement on a Monday in mid-September 2026. His surrender marked a significant development in the case, bringing the sole suspect into custody without further incident. While Robinson has been arrested and charged, the investigation into the death of Ricky Swindell was reported to be ongoing. At the time of his arrest, authorities had not publicly disclosed a motive for the shooting or elaborated on the relationship, if any, between Swindell and Robinson. The case against Michael Anthony Robinson Jr. is expected to proceed through the legal system, with the charges he faces carrying the potential for a significant prison sentence if he is convicted.
