RALEIGH, N.C. – A Kinston man was sentenced today to 720 months in prison after his terrifying crime spree that included the shooting of a Lenoir County Sheriff’s Deputy and a carjacking victim. Robert Lee Strother, 34, faced charges for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, carjacking, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
“Robert Strother was one-man crime spree – shooting a Lenoir County deputy in the neck with an assault rifle, leading law enforcement on a multi-day manhunt, and carjacking a neighbor at gunpoint before shooting him,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “These cases will always be among our highest priorities – our cops and our communities deserve no less.”
According to court documents, Strother shot Deputy Steven Key as he approached a residence where a woman was being held against her will. The bullet traveled through the deputy and into a bedroom where a child was sleeping. Strother then fled and sparked a multi-agency manhunt that lasted several days.
Strother’s spree continued when he stole a truck at gunpoint, shooting its owner multiple times. He was eventually apprehended with a loaded semi-automatic weapon, which had the safety switch set to fire. At the time of these shootings, Strother was on post-release supervision for a previous conviction for felony assault on a law enforcement officer.
U.S. Attorney Easley emphasized the impact of such violent crimes on communities and law enforcement, stating, “They are remarkable people who are lucky to be alive.”
Related Federal Cases
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- Reidsville Gunman Gets Decade For Apartment Shooting · North Carolina
- NC Man Sentenced to Decade in Prison After Reidsville Apartment Complex Shootout · North Carolina
- 10 Years for Reidsville Gunman · North Carolina
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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