Elderly Couple Beaten During Violent Home Invasion In Johnston County

Crime Spree Ends in Arrest

FOUR OAKS — An elderly Johnston County couple was seriously injured Wednesday after a man allegedly forced entry into their home and beat them during a series of crimes that included two home invasions, attempted vehicle thefts, and a foot pursuit, authorities said.

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said the incidents began Wednesday morning at Ronnie’s BP convenience store at the intersection of U.S. 701 and Interstate 95 in Four Oaks. Four Oaks police responded to a complaint of a man loitering and refusing to leave the business. The man was identified as Thomas Lee Wright, 39, of Wendell.

Wright had recently been staying near the convenience store. Police trespassed him from the business and he left the property on foot.

Later Wednesday morning, at approximately 10:50 a.m., deputies said Wright forcibly entered a home in the 2000 block of Devil’s Racetrack Road, where he assaulted an 81-year-old man and his 74-year-old wife. Deputies said both victims were struck about the face and body and suffered serious injuries. One of the victims called 911 and then contacted a nearby relative, advising them to be on the lookout for the suspect, who had fled the residence on foot.

Wright forcibly entered a second nearby home occupied by an elderly woman. The woman told deputies the suspect spoke, but she was unable to understand what he said before leaving the residence. She was not injured.

Around that time, a relative of the first victims located Wright on Devil’s Racetrack Road and discharged a handgun in an attempt to scare him, but not in his direction, deputies said.

As a deputy arrived in the area, Wright observed the patrol vehicle and fled on foot. After a foot pursuit, Wright was taken into custody without further incident.

During the crime spree, Wright broke into two vehicles in an attempt to steal them but was unsuccessful.

Deputies said Wright is also believed to be the individual reported earlier Wednesday for slapping at passing vehicles as he walked along Devil’s Racetrack Road.

The extent of the elderly couple’s injuries has not been released, but deputies described their injuries as serious. Two Johnston County EMS units responded to transport the couple to WakeMed in Raleigh for treatment.

The victim of the second home invasion was not injured.

Wright was charged with multiple felony offenses, including two counts of breaking and entering with intent to terrorize or injure, two counts of assault inflicting serious bodily injury, and two counts of attempted felony larceny related to the attempted vehicle thefts.

Authorities said the home invasions appeared to be random and that none of the three victims knew Wright.

According to court records, Wright has prior convictions for domestic-related assault on a female in Wake County in 2013 and 2021, as well as indecent exposure in Johnston County in 2020.

Court records indicate Wright works as a delivery driver and had recently been living out of his vehicle.

Wright was booked into the Johnston County Detention Center Wednesday afternoon.

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This story has been updated