North Carolina Man Shoots and Kills Elderly Couple and Retired Professor in Their Homes, Suspect Arrested

A 55-year-old North Carolina man, David Lever, has been charged with the brutal killings of three elderly victims on Friday, January 10, 2025. The victims, identified as 80-year-old Anthony Gribble, 76-year-old Paula Gribble, and 64-year-old retired ECU professor Enrique Reyes, were killed at their homes that authorities say could have escalated further without intervention.

Son Intervenes to Stop Potential Massacre

Pitt County Sheriff Paula Dance revealed during a Monday press conference that the Gribbles’ son heroically held Lever at gunpoint, preventing him from more violen

“The investigation of these cases leads us to believe there would have been additional victims had a family member of the victims not intervened,” said Dance.

Weapons Cache Discovered

Authorities found at least 50 weapons inside Lever’s home on Forest Acres Drive, along with firearms and ammunition in his van. Additional weapons were recovered at the Gribbles’ residence. The sheriff described the collection as an “arsenal,” further adding to the gravity of the situation.

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Timeline of the Killings

A detailed timeline of Lever’s movements was provided during the press conference:

• 1:20 p.m.: Enrique Reyes made a purchase at a Food Lion on Stantonsburg Road before returning home. Lever was seen coming and going from his own residence.
• 1:28 p.m.: Lever left his home in a van.
• 1:41 p.m.: He arrived at a Speedway on Highway 43 North to refuel.
• 1:44 p.m.: Lever left Speedway, firing shots as he departed, and drove toward Peace Ridge Court. Deputies received a call about the shots fired.
• 2:17 p.m.: Deputies received reports of Lever killing Anthony and Paula Gribble at their Peace Ridge Court home. Lever was held at gunpoint by the couple’s son.
• 3:35 p.m.: EMS was dispatched to Forest Acres Drive, where Enrique Reyes was found shot multiple times in his driveway.

Motive and Connection

While the connection between Lever and Reyes remains unclear, authorities revealed that the Gribbles had used Lever as their realtor when purchasing their home in 2014. Investigators are working to determine if there are additional links between Lever and his victims.