Kendrick Shane Locklear, a 26-year-old Black man from Maxton, North Carolina, was known to some as "Pookie." His life was cut short on a Sunday afternoon in the summer of 2022.
On July 24, 2022, at approximately 1:43 p.m., deputies from the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call on McCallum Road in the Maxton area. Upon their arrival, they discovered Kendrick inside his vehicle. He had suffered a fatal gunshot wound and was found deceased at the scene.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Division immediately began treating the case as a homicide. Sheriff Burnis Wilkins later commented on the nature of such investigations, explaining that while a potential suspect may be known early on, investigators must gather enough evidence to support a case.
He noted that this process can take time, as it may involve waiting for forensic and technical evidence or for witnesses to come forward with new information.
The investigation progressed for nearly two years. On March 21, 2024, authorities arrested Timothy Earl Smith Jr., a 28-year-old man from Maxton, in connection with the case. The arrest was made by Robeson County Sheriff’s Office investigators and the U.S. Marshals Service Carolina Regional Fugitive Task Force. Smith was charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Following the arrest, Sheriff Wilkins stated that it was an example of his detectives working to bring closure to a grieving family and hold a person accountable for their actions. As of March 2024, the case against Timothy Earl Smith Jr. was proceeding through the justice system. Authorities still ask that anyone with information about the case contact the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office at 910-671-3100 or 910-671-3170.
