(Sampson County Sheriff’s Office photo)
The Elizabethtown man charged in the county’s first murder of 2022 was arrested the same day after a high speed chase in Clinton.
Lawrence Thomas, 69, of Jones Street, Elizabethtown, is being held under no bond on a charge of first degree murder according to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.
In a press release, the CCSO said deputies were called to a home on McMillian Road near Whiteville Feb. 21 after a woman was found dead in the residence. Hazel Jamessa Renee Leach, 28, of Fayetteville, was found deceased in a bed. She had been shot. The CCSO said Thomas had allowed Leach to stay at the home, and the two were in a relationship. Thomas was immediately named a person of interest in the killing.
Later that evening, Thomas was spotted driving 85 miles per hour in a 55 MPH work zone on Faircloth Freeway in Clinton. His license had been revoked for a previous driving while impaired conviction, the CCSO said.
Clinton Police gave chase, and Thomas struck at least three vehicles before he was stopped. CPD charged Thomas with three counts of hit and run; driving while license revoked, speeding, felony fleeing to elude arrest and reckless driving. His vehicle was seized. Thomas was released on bond.
When the CCSO learned of Thomas’ arrest in Clinton, detectives obtained a search warrant for his vehicle, where “evidence relating to the homicide” was discovered, the release said.
On March 4, Thomas was arrested at 511 Newkirk St., Elizabethtown and placed in the detention center in Columbus County.
Sheriff Jody Greene thanked the Clinton and Elizabethtown police departments and Sampson County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.
