Black Shooter Hands Himself in After Killing White Fair Worker

Robesonian
October 5, 2014

A 19-year-old has been charged with shooting and killing a fair worker across the street from where the Robeson County Regional Agricultural Fair is set to open in two days.

Terrence Devon Paige turned himself in to police on Tuesday evening and was charged with attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and first-degree murder in the death of 53-year-old Edward Reiner, according to a statement from the Lumberton Police Department.

Paige has been jailed without bond.

“We are extremely pleased that an arrest has been made and we are looking forward to moving on,” said Allen Faircloth, president of the fair’s board of directors. “Of course, we do want to emphasize that this happened across the street at Sun Do and was not fair-related nor on the fairground.”

Reiner, an employee of Carnival Payroll Company, was shot “multiple times in his upper body” at about 9 p.m. on Monday, according to an earlier statement.

Officers found Reiner in the roadway near Sun Do gas station and King’s Learning Center on Martin Luther King Drive. According to the statement, Reiner had been shot in the rear parking lot of the convenience store “where some type of altercation took place.”

Lumberton police Capt. Terry Parker said he belived Reiner had walked over to the convenience store with a co-worker to purchase something.

Officers had gone to the area following reports that shots had been fired. Reiner was pronounced dead at Southeastern Regional Medical Center.

According to the police report, Reiner lived in New Milford, Connecticut. Among other duties, he operated fair rides rented out by Dreamland Amusements.

Robert DeStefano Jr., a consultant with the Pennsylvania-based company, said Reiner was “a very happy go-lucky fellow.”

“He always said making the kids smile in different towns … is part of what fulfilled him,” DeStefano said.

DeStefano said he had known Reiner for about a year.

“It’s very disturbing to all of us here,” he said.

Coble Wilson, the past president of the fair, echoed that sentiment.

“We work mighty hard to make sure the fair is safe for everybody and it’s just an unfortunate situation,” Wilson said. ” … Our prayers go out to that family.”

Faircloth said he was relieved to learn of the arrest this morning.

“Of course, we’re obviously sorry for such a tragic accident but at the same time we’re glad that family can get closure, as far as they have the person they consider to be guilty,” Faircloth said.

Faircloth said police worked around the clock to make the arrest.

“I don’t think those detectives — we met with them yesterday afternoon — I don’t think they had gone to bed the night before,” he said.