Mother of six killed in drive-by shootout in North Carolina, police say

A mother-of-six from Pennsylvania was killed in a road shootout in North Carolina while on vacation to celebrate her wedding anniversary, authorities said.

The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina on Friday announced a reward of $ 10,000 for information that will lead to the suspect.

Shortly before 12 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to a report of a gunshot on Interstate 95 in Lumberton, North Carolina, about 95 miles southwest of Raleigh, the sheriff’s office said. .

Julie Eberly, 47, of Manheim, Pa., Was found shot through the passenger door in a vehicle with her husband, Ryan Eberly, police said. She was taken to Southeastern Health in Lumberton, where she later died, authorities said.

Ryan, who was driving, was not injured, police said.

The couple’s vehicle approached the suspect’s vehicle as Ryan pulled into a lane, police said. This prompted the driver of the other vehicle to step onto the passenger side of the victim’s car, roll down his window and fire “several shots in the passenger door,” police said.

The shooter’s vehicle has been described as a silver or gray 2010 Chevrolet Malibu or Impala “with tinted windows and possibly chrome around the window frame,” police said.

The couple were heading to South Carolina on an “escape” trip to celebrate their wedding anniversary, Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said in a Facebook post.

Wilkins said on Friday investigators were still looking for the shooter and trying to find video footage of the shooting.

Wilkins said he spoke with Ryan and his in-laws, who he said “were so grateful for the outpouring of support they received not only from their home community in Pennsylvania, but also from our community. “

The sheriff said he was grateful for the residents of Robeson County who provided assistance in the investigation.

“It literally brings tears to my eyes to know that you came forward in such a way that you wanted to help this family, especially since they are from out of state. That alone says a lot, ”Wilkins said.

He added that the couple’s six children were at home with their grandparents at the time of the shooting.

“My heart goes out to this family and I ask everyone reading this article to stop and pray for this whole family,” he said.