On January 13, 2024, at approximately 10:40 p.m., Hoke County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to reports of gunfire in the 500 block of Wayside Road near the intersection of Brock Road, just west of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Prior to their arrival, 41-year-old Eric Joseph Walters had been transported to Cape Fear Valley Hoke Hospital with a gunshot wound. Despite medical efforts, Walters succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into Walters' death led to the identification and arrest of multiple suspects. On February 6, 2024, authorities apprehended 27-year-old Manizah Ikey Capers. Capers was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, discharging a weapon into occupied property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and felony conspiracy.
Subsequently, on March 11, 2024, detectives, in collaboration with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, arrested 23-year-old Ronnie Junior Slate. Slate faced charges including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, discharging a weapon into occupied property, and felony conspiracy.
The investigation further revealed the involvement of Slate's younger brother, 22-year-old Rayion Martez Slate. On March 22, 2024, Rayion was arrested and charged with felony conspiracy and accessory after the fact. He was held on a secured bond of $150,000, with a court appearance scheduled for March 25, 2024.
The arrests of Capers and the Slate brothers underscore the collaborative efforts of the Hoke County Sheriff's Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in addressing violent crimes in the region. The community continues to mourn the loss of Eric Joseph Walters as legal proceedings against the accused move forward.
