Two carjacking suspects who spent the night in the swamp near Lake Waccamaw are in custody facing multiple charges. One of the suspects was arrested while trying to flag down motorists on U.S. 74.
Keko Kenya Somers-Williams, 19,and David Wayne Henry, 19, face multiple felonies in Columbus and New Hanover counties. Somers-Williams is being held under $176,000 secured bond, charged with two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, three charges of resist, obstruct or delay an officer, fleeing to elude arrest, and traffic charges. Henry is under $76,000 bond, charged with resisting, obstruct and delay and possession of a stolen vehicle. Additional charges are pending.
The men allegedly fled from the Highway Patrol in a stolen vehicle in Wilmington Saturday, then took another vehicle in Bolton. Lake Waccamaw Police Chief Scott Hyatt said a deputy en route to assist a LWPD officer around 9 p.m. Saturday spotted the second stolen car at the Marathon gas station, where the suspects were refueling the car.
“The suspects fled on foot when the deputy approached them,” Hyatt said.
Four of the five officers with Lake Waccamaw Police, along with State Highway Patrol Troopers, deputies, and Wildlife officers began searching for the suspects, Hyatt said. The Whiteville and Forest Service drone teams were also called in to assist, but Henry and Somers-Williams evaded capture. The search was called off around 12:30 p.m.
“We had calls about them being here and there,” Hyatt said. “At one point they were reported at the vape shop.”
Officers found Henry at the Speedymart just after noon, sitting in a booth, covered in mosquito bites, Hyatt said. He was taken into custody without incident. Somers-Williams once again ran.
Cory Finch of the LWPD was off duty an in his private vehicle several hours later when he spotted a man “running into traffic and trying to flag down cars” on U.S. 74, Hyatt said. Finch called for backup, and Somers-Williams was taken into custody.
Both men had extensive insect bites, Hyatt said.
“I just want to thank everyone who was involved,” Hyatt said. “The sheriff’s office, Highway Patrol, Hal Lowder, the Forest Service and their drone teams, Wildlife – they all turned out to work with Lake Waccamaw to arrest the suspects. It was great teamwork.”
