WHITEVILLE, NC — A Columbus County man is facing multiple violent‑felony charges after being booked into the county detention center early Thursday morning.
This article is an update to our previous reporting on the manhunt and arrest.
Detention records show William Robert Smith, 47, was taken into custody at 12:26 a.m. on September 17 by the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. Smith is listed as a white male, 5 foot, 11 inches tall and 175 pounds.
Smith is charged with Attempted First Degree Murder and two counts of Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer with a Firearm. He is also charged under North Carolina statute 14‑415.1 with Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Additional charges include a felony probation violation.
The roster lists duplicate entries for Attempted First Degree Murder and Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer with a Firearm, indicating multiple counts tied to the incident. Smith was assigned Booking ID 81386.
All individuals named in this report are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Charges and case statuses may change as investigations and court proceedings continue.
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