Couple charged with shooting, trying to rob Spring Lake employer
A husband and wife shot and tried to rob the owner of a Spring Lake restaurant where they worked earlier this week, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.
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D'Andre Pemberton, 19, and Crystal Rameriz-Pemberton, 28, of 200 Westley Drive, face 17 charges, including attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.
They were arrested and booked into the Cumberland County Jail Friday morning. D'Andre Pemberton was held on $800,000 bond, while his wife was held on $750,000 bond.
The couple worked at Mandarin Wok, 247 Skyland Plaza, according to Debbie Tanna, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office. They decided to rob the owner, Xiao Zhang, after learning he kept the nightly deposit in his pocket.
On Wednesday night, the couple first broke into Zhang's home and stole a laptop and handgun, Tanna said. The couple then went to the restaurant, where Zhang was shot in the head.
Zhang was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and then to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. His condition was stable, and he was improving Friday, Tanna said.
Before the arrests, Tanna said that the restaurant would reopen Friday.
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