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Suspect's motive for allegedly killing two family members unclear to Alamance County investigators

The investigation is ongoing.

Suspect's motive for allegedly killing two family members unclear to Alamance County investigators

The investigation is ongoing.

CONFERENCE AND WE WILL LISTEN AND WHEN THEY BEGIN SPEAKING. TALITH MEANTIME, THE SUSPECT IN ALAMANCE DOUBLE HOMICIDE WAS IN CART. -- WAS IN COURT THIS AFTERNOON. JUSTIN RAMIREZ IS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AND FELONY LARCENY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE. OUR KIRSTEN GUTIERREZ WAS INSIDE THE COURTROOM AND JOINS US LIV FROM THE ALAMANCE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. KIRSTEN, I UNDERSTAND WE’VE LEARNED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT DEPUTIES ARE CALLING SENSELESS MURDERS. KIRSTEN: THAT IS RIGHT. THE TWO VICTIMS WERE FAMILY. JERRY WILLIAMSON AND HIS GRANDSON STEVENOMERS. THE VICTIM’S FAMILY FILLE SEVERAL ROWS IN THE COURTROOM TODAY. THEY WERE EMOTIONAL AND CRIED AS JUSTIN RAMIREZ WAS CALLED IN. WHILE THERE WERE NO CAMERAS ALLOWED IN THE COURTHOUSE, W DID LEARN THAT HIS NEXT COURT CASE I SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 6. INVESTIGATORS SAY SOMETIM MONDAY, RAMIREZ WAS SHOOTING TOWARD WILLIAMSON’S HOUSE, WHEN WILLIAMSON ASKED HIM TO STOP. ATER THAT DAY, WILLIAMSON AND SOMERS WERE FOUND DEAD, BOTH SHOT IN THE HEAD WITH A HIGH-POWER RIFLE. AFTER REPORTEDLY MURDERING THE TWO, RAMIREZ TRIED TO ESCAPE IT WAS PICKED UP BY THE ASH PROBE POLICE DEPARTMENT. INVESTIGATORS SAY RAMIREZ AND SOMERS WERE FRIENDS BUT WHAT LED TO THE MURDERS IS UNKNOWN. >> AT THIS POINT, WE ARE STILL STUDYING WHAT THE MOTIVES WOULD BE. I CAN TE YOU IN WITH TALKING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE SUSPECT, THERE WAS DRUGS INVOLVED IN THIS YOUNG MAN’S LIFE. AND IN TALKING WITH THE OTHER FAMILY, MR. SOMERS, HE HAD BEEN PUT OUT OF THE HOUSE BECAUSE OF BEHAVIOR AND THAT’S WHY THEY WERE LIVING NEXT DOOR. KIRSTEN: THIS IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION. THE SHERIFF OFFICE PLANS TO SWEEP THE VICTIM’S HOME FOR ANY EVIDENCE THEY
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Suspect's motive for allegedly killing two family members unclear to Alamance County investigators

The investigation is ongoing.

The man accused of killing two family members in Alamance County remains in jail without bond after his first court appearance Wednesday.Justin Lynn Ramirez, 31, faces charges for allegedly killing Jerry Williamson and Williamson's grandson, Steve Somers.Deputies said when they went to an area at Payne Road and Dawnwood Drive near Saxapahaw in Alamance County around 10:20 p.m. they found two people dead of gunshot wounds.Williamson was found dead lying in a field near his home. His grandson was found in a building nearby on the property. Both victims were shot in the head with a high-powered rifle. Deputies said Ramirez was a fugitive on the run from the Haw River Police Department. He had outstanding warrants for breaking and entering and larceny in Haw River. Investigators said he was staying with Somers. Sometime during the day Monday, Ramirez and Somers were shooting toward Williamson’s house when Williamson walked down to where they were and asked them to stop because it was upsetting his dogs.Sometime later, Williamson went down to check on Ramirez and never was seen alive again. Family became worried and went to check on Williamson and that’s how he was found dead in a field. Somers was found shortly after. Deputies said after Ramirez killed the two, he stole Williamson’s pickup truck and tried to escape but was picked up by the Asheboro Police Department and then taken to the Alamance County jail. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and felony larceny of motor vehicle.Investigators said Ramirez and Somers were supposedly friends but what led to the murders is still unknown. "At this point we are still studying what the motives would be," Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson said. "I could tell you, with talking with family members of the suspect there was drugs involved in this young man's life. And in talking with the other family Mr. Somers he had been put out of the house because of behavior and that's why they were living next door."Prior to his arrest, Ramirez was on the run for nearly six hours."Mr. Ramirez is armed and dangerous," a press release said. "He is believed to be driving a stolen 1996 Dodge pickup with NC registration YC-7394. The truck is primer in color on the front and top. The truck is beige in color with a single brown stripe down the side."The investigation is ongoing.Ramirez is expected in court on Dec. 6.To watch the Sheriff's Office give an update on the incident, click here.

The man accused of killing two family members in Alamance County remains in jail without bond after his first court appearance Wednesday.

Justin Lynn Ramirez, 31, faces charges for allegedly killing Jerry Williamson and Williamson's grandson, Steve Somers.

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Deputies said when they went to an area at Payne Road and Dawnwood Drive near Saxapahaw in Alamance County around 10:20 p.m. they found two people dead of gunshot wounds.

Williamson was found dead lying in a field near his home. His grandson was found in a building nearby on the property. Both victims were shot in the head with a high-powered rifle.

Deputies said Ramirez was a fugitive on the run from the Haw River Police Department. He had outstanding warrants for breaking and entering and larceny in Haw River. Investigators said he was staying with Somers.

Sometime during the day Monday, Ramirez and Somers were shooting toward Williamson’s house when Williamson walked down to where they were and asked them to stop because it was upsetting his dogs.

Sometime later, Williamson went down to check on Ramirez and never was seen alive again. Family became worried and went to check on Williamson and that’s how he was found dead in a field. Somers was found shortly after.

Deputies said after Ramirez killed the two, he stole Williamson’s pickup truck and tried to escape but was picked up by the Asheboro Police Department and then taken to the Alamance County jail. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and felony larceny of motor vehicle.

Investigators said Ramirez and Somers were supposedly friends but what led to the murders is still unknown.

"At this point we are still studying what the motives would be," Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson said. "I could tell you, with talking with family members of the suspect there was drugs involved in this young man's life. And in talking with the other family Mr. Somers he had been put out of the house because of behavior and that's why they were living next door."

Prior to his arrest, Ramirez was on the run for nearly six hours.

"Mr. Ramirez is armed and dangerous," a press release said. "He is believed to be driving a stolen 1996 Dodge pickup with NC registration YC-7394. The truck is primer in color on the front and top. The truck is beige in color with a single brown stripe down the side."

The investigation is ongoing.

Ramirez is expected in court on Dec. 6.

To watch the Sheriff's Office give an update on the incident, click here.