A double fatal shooting in Whitakers on Saturday morning left two men dead following a violent incident outside a local business, according to the Nash County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said deputies responded on June 13, 2026, at approximately 9:55 a.m. to reports of gunfire at the Dollar General located at 211 S. White Street. When officers arrived on scene, they found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Deputies immediately began life-saving efforts; however, the victim, later identified as Herbert Earl Lawrence Jr., was pronounced deceased at the scene due to the severity of his injuries.
While investigators were actively processing the area, a second victim was discovered nearby at the intersection of Nash and White Streets. The man, identified as Wilbert Silver III, had also sustained a gunshot wound. Emergency responders provided immediate medical assistance, but despite these efforts, he later died from his injuries.
According to preliminary findings, the two men were involved in a heated altercation that escalated into an exchange of gunfire. Both individuals sustained fatal injuries during the incident.
Law enforcement confirmed that the shooting occurred in the vicinity of the Dollar General and quickly spread to nearby areas as the situation unfolded. Deputies secured the scene as detectives and crime scene investigators began collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
The Nash County Sheriff’s Office stated that the investigation remains ongoing, and additional details will be released as they become available. Authorities have not yet announced any arrests in connection with the shooting.
Officials are urging anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Nash County Sheriff’s Office as they continue working to determine the full circumstances surrounding the deadly encounter.
