A Clinton woman and Warsaw man have been arrested in connection with the murder of a woman in Wayne County, shot in the home where she was staying with four children, according to information obtained from that county’s Sheriff’s Office.

On Thursday, Oct. 1, at approximately 10:40 p.m., the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a shooting at 3479 Arrington Bridge Road, Dudley. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that multiple shots had been fired into the residence, which was occupied by an adult male and female and four children. The female, identified as Georgina Fajardo, was shot one time in the head. She was transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital, where she later died.

Maria Guadalupe Garcia, 20, of 146 Hunt Lane, Clinton, and Arnulfo Ascencio, 22, of 109 Plantation Drive, Warsaw, have each been charged with one open count of murder, discharging firearm into occupied dwelling, attempted first degree burglary and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill.

Reports detail a break-in gone awry.

During the initial investigation, it was determined that two unknown Hispanic males and an unknown Hispanic female had arrived at the Dudley address and attempted to make entry into the front and rear doors of the home. When they were unable to, reports state, they then broke a bedroom and bathroom window in a continued effort to enter the home. Still unable to enter, “the suspects then began discharging a firearm of undetermined caliber into the home.”

It was during the firing of those shots that the victim was struck, authorities said. No other individuals in the home were physically injured.

The investigation went around the clock, with multiple detectives assigned to the case and authorities with the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, among others, assisting along the way. The investigation continued throughout the weekend and into Monday, when detectives received a break in the case.

On Tuesday, enough information was received to issue warrants for the arrest of Garcia and Ascencio. Neither received privilege of bond. Both were placed in the Wayne County Detention Center.

Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce thanked all involved in the investigation for their long hours dedicated to the case, saying it showed how effective law enforcement and citizens can be when they work together “to bring individuals responsible for crimes to justice.”

Among the agencies involved, he thanked all divisions of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with Wayne County Detention Center, Wayne County Alcohol Beverage Control and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, as well as the Wilson Police Department, Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, Duplin County Sheriff’s Office and the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation.

“If it were not for concerned citizens coming forth with information about this case, it would have been a much longer and extensive investigation,” Pierce said in a prepared statement. “Because of citizens concerns, the detectives were able to bring closure to the family and quickly arrest those individual responsible for this homicide.”

He said additional charges may be forthcoming.

“While these arrests have been made,” the Wayne County sheriff noted, “this investigation continues due to it crossing multiple jurisdictions and based on the information learned by detectives during their investigation.”

Reach Managing Editor Chris Berendt at 910-249-4616. Follow the paper on twitter @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.

By Chris Berendt

[email protected]

Ascencio
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_ArnulfoArcencio1.jpgAscencio

Garcia
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_MariaGuadalupeGarcia1.jpgGarcia