Fayetteville Police Make Arrest In Connection With Robbery, Shooting

Police took Michael Cook into custody on Wednesday, calling him a suspect in three previous home invasion/robberies that occurred over the weekend.

Cook faces multiple charges, including second-degree kidnapping, robbery with a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Cook also was wanted in Florida for probation violation. He was being held in the Cumberland County jail with bond Wednesday night pending extradition to Florida.

According to police, Cook approached 30-year-old Barbara Kelly, of 510 Mill Cove Ct., when she got home from work around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, pointed a handgun at Kelly and demanded money.

Police say Cook then forced Kelly to the front door. She rang the doorbell, and her husband, 33-year-old Antonio Kelly, opened the door.

As Barbara Kelly walked into the apartment, Cook allegedly fired his weapon at Antonio Kelly, striking him once in the chest, and then fled in Barbara Kelly's vehicle.

Neighbor Amar King came face-to-face with the suspect as he sped off.

"I was pulling out, and the guy didn't have the (car) lights on, so he almost ran smack into me, " King said, "and then I stopped, and I swerved around him, and he looked at me. Ten minutes later, the parking lot was swarming with police."

Police apprehended Cook just before lunchtime Wednesday. An officer attempted to pull him over on a routine traffic stop when Cook fled.

Antonio Kelly was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center for treatment and hospitalization. He reportedly was in critical condition Wednesday night with injuries that could leave him paralyzed.

"The unfortunate thing in all this is Mr. Kelly ended up being a victim, certainly not by choice, but more by chance than anything else," said Sgt. Alex Thompson, of the Fayetteville Police Department.

In the three similar incidents police responded to, none of the victims was injured or had a vehicle taken.

Police also remind citizens to remain aware of their surroundings when pulling into parking lots and exiting their vehicles for suspicious persons or vehicles.

Citizens should report suspicious activity that they observe to police as soon as possible, finding a safe location to wait for the police.