KINSTON, N.C. (WNCT) – The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday they had arrested two men in connection to a deadly armed robbery in Lenoir County.
18-year-old Justin Lavone Lynch of Grifton has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon, among several other charges. He was taken into custody Wednesday. He’s in the W.E. “Billy” Smith Detention Center under no bond for the murder and robbery charges.
Lynch is accused of killing Christopher Chad Bostic, a husband, father of three teenage girls, and the owner of the Pit Stop Bar. During the incideny, John James Case was also shot, suffering serious injuries. It all happened during an armed robbery at the Pit Stop on Highway 11 just north of Kinston Friday.
Bostic’s wife, Joy Bostic, said she was there during the whole incident after bringing him lunch.
“I heard the back door open and heard somebody say give us all your money, and the next thing you know two gentleman came down the steps into the bar area waving their weapons around,” Bostic said.
After shots were fired, she said the suspects fled and she ran to the side of her husband. While they waited for help, he said his final words to her.
“He told me he loved me,” she said. “He told me he loved the girls. Told me he was going to be alright.”
A warrant at the Lenoir County Courthouse, obtained by WNCT 9 On Your Side, notes that Lynch took “cash register and Samsung Cellular phone of the value of $800” from Bostic. Lynch is accused of using an SKS-type rifle to kill Bostic and wound Case.
The following day, deputies took three people into custody on unrelated charges after a traffic stop of a suspect vehicle in Maury, which identified several persons of interest in the case.
21-year-old Travares Marquel Lane of Trenton was charged with aid and abet murder, aid and abet attempted murder, aid and abet robbery with a dangerous weapon, and accessory after the fact to a felony, breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and possession of stolen goods.
Joy Bostic said while the arrest have given them a little closure, she still doesn’t forgive them.
“He was my soulmate and my best friend. My children’s father. They deserve no forgiveness,” she said.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to call Lenoir County CrimeStoppers at 252-523-4444.
Please contact Major Ryan Dawson at 252-559-6101 or by email at rdawson@co.lenoir.nc.us with any questions.
Previous Update:
Sheriff Ingram says no charges have been filed yet for the three persons of interest.
Two of the persons of interest are being held in Greene County while the third person of interest was sent to Lenoir County because he had a warrant for his arrest.
Previous Update:
Three persons of interest are being questioned by authorities about a fatal store armed robbery in Lenoir County Friday.
Lenoir County Sheriff Ronnie Ingram tells WNCT he conducted a traffic stop on a burgundy Jeep Cherokee Saturday on Highway 123 in Maury. Ingram says the three people who were inside, are persons of interest in the Pit Stop Bar and Billiards armed robbery on Friday.
They are being interviewed at the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
Original Story:
Police need your help finding the people responsible for a murder in Lenoir County Friday afternoon.
One person is dead and another is injured after an armed robbery at Pit Stop Bar and Billiards on Wallace Family Road.
Sheriff Ronnie Ingram said it happened around 1 p.m. He said robbers came into the bar and shot two people.
Sheriff Ingram said there were around 8 people in the bar when the robbery happened. He believes the person shot and killed was the owner. He’s been identified as Christopher Bostic. A second person was rushed to Vidant Medical Center.
“We are very hopeful that we can bring closure to this very shortly,” said Ronnie Ingram, Lenoir County Sheriff. “We are working on some leads so we will see where it goes from there.”
Sheriff Ingram said they believe the suspects fled in a dark SUV. They are unsure what direction they went in.
If you have any information on the crime, you’re asked to contact Lenoir County CrimeStoppers.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by family friends to help cover the funeral cost. To donate click here.
