N.C. real estate agent arrested after officials find 4 crime scenes and 3 deceased victims

GREENVILLE, N.C. (TCN) -- A 55-year-old real estate agent who was found with over 50 weapons is in custody for allegedly fatally shooting three people, including an elderly couple, last week.

Pitt County Sheriff Paula Dance said in a press conference that the crime spree began just after 1 p.m. on Jan. 10. One of the victims, 64-year-old Enrique Reyes, purchased food at 1:20 p.m., then returned to his home on Forest Acres Drive. Minutes later, suspect David Lever "was seen coming and going" from his home on the same street. Lever drove to a gas station in his Sprinter van at 1:41 p.m., and at 1:44 p.m., he allegedly left the station and started shooting. A concerned citizen immediately contacted the sheriff’s office about the incident.

Lever reportedly went to an address on Peace Ridge Court and tried making contact with someone inside, but by the time the resident answered the door, Lever was already backing out of the driveway. The resident saw Lever and told officials they did not recognize him. At 2:17 p.m., a man called 911 and said his "parents had been murdered by David Lever" at a home on Peace Ridge Court. Deputies arrived at the scene and found the victims' son holding Lever at gunpoint.

The sheriff’s office identified those victims as 80-year-old Anthony Gribble and his wife, Paula Gribble, 76.

Dance said, "There would have been additional victims had the family member not intervened until deputies arrived."

At 2:50 p.m., deputies received a breaking-and-entering call on Forest Acres Drive. Dance said the home was unoccupied and someone had shot into it. Then, at 3:35 p.m., a passerby called and said they saw an unconscious man in Reyes' driveway. Deputies responded to the scene and found Reyes deceased from multiple gunshot wounds.

Officials executed multiple search warrants and discovered a "large number of firearms" and ammunition at Lever’s home and in his van.

Dance believes Reyes was killed first in the crime spree.

Lever was booked into the Pitt County Jail on three counts of murder. He is being held without bond. Dance said Pitt County deputies have responded to Lever’s residence in the past due to domestic issues.

WITN-TV reports Lever worked as a real estate agent in the area and helped the Gribbles buy their home. Paula Gribble reportedly called her son, who lives next door, that Lever was in their house, so the son rushed over. A search warrant cited by the news station says Lever allegedly admitted to the son that he killed the couple. The son told detectives that Lever "was not of sound mind and has substance abuse issues."

The warrant also noted that investigators "believed that Reyes is an associate of David Lever."

Officials reportedly found more than 50 guns in Lever’s home, as well as other ones in his vehicle.

According to WITN, Lever called the judge a "motherf---ker" at his court hearing.

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