Sampson County Sheriff’s investigators say they are inching closer to finding the remaining suspects who walked into the Corner Mart LaCostena and Grill, located at 2585 Fayetteville Highway in Dunn, on the afternoon of Saturday, May 30, tied up employees and made away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Two of the suspects have been apprehended, but others remain at large.

“We are still exploring all leads,” said Sampson County Sheriff’s Capt. Julian Carr Thursday. “There is really nothing new to report except that we are still working closely with investigators from the Raleigh Police Department to catch these men.”

Two of the five were caught by investigators in Sampson County within hours of the armed robbery.

Usiel Hernandez-Lopez, 23, of 27 Pine Stamp Lane, Raleigh, and Carlos Chavez, 21, of 40 Pine Stamp Lane, Raleigh, were each charged with two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and three counts of first degree kidnapping.

Hernandez-Lopez was caught attempting to flee with the others in a dense, wooded area located between Star Telephone on U.S. 421 and the Marathon Convenience Store on the corner of U.S. 421 and Kitty Fork Road.

Just after 4 a.m. on Sunday, May 31, a deputy from the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office was patrolling in and around the Midway District and noticed Chavez walking down the side of the road — he was immediately taken into custody.

Carr said investigators do not believe that the remaining three suspects are still in Sampson County, however, they are exploring all leads and all locations.

“We want to get these suspects off the streets,” said Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton Friday morning. “We are investigating every possible lead. We just got in some recent information and we are following up on that as we speak.”

The Sheriff’s Office tip line is (910) 564-5261 or you can email a tip to cid@intrstar.net.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.