Second suspect wanted in double murder in Pender Co. arrested

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The second suspect in a double murder in Pender County is behind bars according to the Pender County Sheriff’s Office.

On April 21, around 12:30 a.m. a 911 call was received from 3460 Halfway Branch School Road in Ivanhoe reporting shots fired and that two persons had been injured.

Deputies arrived on scene and found two people dead. The two deceased individuals are Marcus Lamont Coleman, 36, of Castle Hayne and Dakota Ontaria Moore, Jr., 30, of Harrells.

Pender County Sheriff’s Office officials say originally one suspect, 36-year-old Eric Jamel Pigford of Burgaw, had been arrested and is charged with First Degree Murder.

Warrants were outstanding for Jamie Dante Coleman, 31, of Atkinson for First Degree Murder.

Captain James Rowell with the Pender County Sheriff’s Office said Coleman turned himself in to the Pender County Sheriff’s office Monday morning.

Jamie Dante Coleman, 31, appears in a Burgaw courtroom on a first degree murder charge.

District Attorney Ben David says Coleman is the brother of victim Marcus Lamont Coleman, and the first cousin of Pigford.

David says because the district attorney’s office has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty against Coleman, they asked the judge for him to be held with no bond.

Jamie Dante Coleman, 31, faces a judge with his attorney Terry Richardson.

Pigford, who appeared in court last week, is being held under a $2 million bond.

Both men will appear back in court on May 15th.