William James Purdie turned himself in to Bladen authorities Wednesday to face charges of murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
Purdie, 37, of Airport Road, Clarkton, was charged with the murder of Ervin Junior Ripley, 51, and assaulting his mother, Debra Purdie, 53. Ripley was from Allen Circle, Clarkton, and Ms. Purdie lives in the 5000 block of Mercer Mill Road, where the shooting occurred. The shooting occurred New Year’s Eve, according to the Bladen Sheriff’s Office.
Warrants drawn by Det. A. DiCicco show Purdie is charged with shooting Ripley in the head, and wounding Ms. Purdie in the hand. Purdie fled the scene in an older Honda automobile, and was the subject of a regional manhunt.
Chief Deputy mac Warner of the Bladen Sheriff’s Office said in a press release that the shooting is apparently the result of a domestic dispute.
Purdie is being held in the Bladen Detention Center under no bond.
