Bloody trail leads to injured child — and 2 bodies — in smoke-filled home, NC cops say

A discarded gun and a bloody trail led police to a smoke-filled apartment, where they found one badly hurt child and two dead adults, according to the Lexington Police Department in North Carolina.

The child, 3-year-old Ja-sel Orr, was hospitalized with “traumatic injuries” and died March 4, officials said in an update.

Injuries suffered by the three victims were not related to a fire in the home’s kitchen, officials said.

Investigators identified the adults as Lionel Coker, 56, of Lexington, and Robert Lee Stowe, 61, of Winston-Salem.

The discovery was made around 7:18 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, at an apartment in the 500 block of Burgess Street, officials said. Lexington is about 60 miles northeast of downtown Charlotte.

A 911 caller reported a fire at the home, and said “blood was on the steps and a gun was in the parking lot,” police said.

“Due to the caller’s information about blood and a gun, officers approached and forced entry into the apartment, where they encountered smoke,” police said.

“Upon entering, officers observed two adults with life-threatening injuries. Further search led officers to discover a small child with traumatic injuries. Officers picked up the child and ran them up the street to nearby firefighters, who rendered further aid.”

Both adults died at the scene, police said. The child died two days later at a Winston-Salem hospital, officials said.

Investigators did not provide details of injuries suffered by the victims. The fire at the home was limited to the stove, officials said.

Brian Moses, 54, of Winston-Salem, is a suspect in the case, police said. He was arrested March 3 “without incident” and is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, “arson, possession of a firearm by a felon and robbery with a dangerous weapon,” officials said.

Moses became a suspect after witnesses gave police a description of a vehicle seen leaving the apartment where the bodies were found, police said. A search of his home found “additional evidence,” officials said.

This story was originally published March 3, 2022 at 12:58 PM with the headline "Bloody trail leads to injured child — and 2 bodies — in smoke-filled home, NC cops say."