Deputies catch alleged gunman in attempted murder

The long arm of the law reaches to Snow Hill.

Thursday, Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office deputies caught a man in Greene County who they say has been on the run since allegedly shooting another man in the face in December.

Authorities accuse Antoine Pridgen, 28, of shooting Eric Roach in the face outside a residence on the 300 block of West Queen Street in La Grange on Dec. 22. Roach, 22, is believed to have been gambling at the house and shot outside as he left. He had been released from prison four days earlier following a drug conviction.

According to the LCSO, detectives had a principal suspect in mind shortly after the shooting, but had been unable to track down Pridgen until recently. He’s charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Both charges are felonies.

“This is the true meaning of law enforcement agencies coming together to protect the community from suspects who are a danger to society,” Lenoir County Sheriff Chris Hill said in a statement. “I want to commend the Snow Hill Police Department and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for their assistance in this investigation and locating this fugitive.

“We are grateful that they both provided officers to assist us with this apprehension that occurred without any incident.”

Pridgen also faces unrelated charges in Wayne County of driving while impaired, speeding, civil revocation of driver’s license, driving while license revoked and giving fictitious information to an officer. He’s due in Lenoir County District Court on Monday and in Wayne County District Court on May 7.

Pridgen is in Lenoir County Jail under $115,000 bond.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.