NEWTON GROVE —Investigators with the Newton Grove Police Department do not know what provoked the murder/suicide of two Clinton residents late Thursday night.

Police Chief Frankie Harrell said that the two victims were found in a car located in a dirt parking lot on Clinton Street, just across the road from Weeks Park, at 10:40 p.m. Thursday night.

“The incident happened some time between 10 and 10:30 p.m.,” Harrell said Friday morning. “From what we have right now, it is an apparent homicide/suicide.”

Daniel Drayton, 23, of Oakland Boulevard, Clinton; and Tammy Pickett, 20 of Faison Highway, Clinton, were found dead from gunshot wounds.

“It appears the male was the aggressor,” said Harrell, who noted that a semi-automatic weapon was found at the scene. “We are still investigating, but the male died from a single gunshot wound.”

Harrell said to the best of his knowledge, Pickett was also shot at least once, but she could have received as many as two gunshot wounds. “We will have to wait to find out,” the chief said.

Harrell said it is not clear how and why the two ended up in Newton Grove.

“We are not sure if they were a couple or not a couple, or the reason for this to happen,” he said.

At the time of her death, Pickett was enrolled as a full-time student at Sampson Community College and was making plans to transfer to N.C. State. She had also worked at Matthews Cards and Gifts for the past three years.

Joyce Owen, store manager at Matthews Cards and Gifts, said she and others were shocked and saddened by the loss of their co-worker, who was like a sister and daughter to many of them. She remembered Pickett as a hard worker and quick learner, who took on any task — none of them were too big for the 20-year-old, Owen said.

“She was always very dependable, with a huge heart,” an emotional Owen said Friday morning, as news of the incident made its way back to Clinton. “She was assertive in a positive way. She had very high hopes for her future. We are all very devastated.”

The sudden loss of Pickett leaves a void at Matthews Cards and Gifts, both personally to those who knew her and professionally.

“She worked in every area of the store and was loved by all, co-workers and customers alike,” Owen stated. “She never met a stranger and saw the best in everyone. She had a very giving spirit. It is a huge, huge loss for us. We are all devastated, as I’m sure her family is. And we counted her as our family, too.”

Not much is known about Drayton.

The last homicide in Newton Grove was back in 2004.

“It is just tragic,” said Mayor Gerald Darden Friday. “You don’t know why things like this happen — it is just terrible.”

“Coming across a scene like this is very difficult to handle,” admitted Harrell. “The last murder we had in Newton Grove was a few years ago ... it is just difficult.”

Harrell said that he appreciated the help of the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, which assisted his department at the scene.

“I want to thank them for being so supportive,” he said. “We are very appreciative of their efforts in helping us with this; they did an awesome job.”

Staff writer Chris Berendt contributed to this article.

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