An investigation into the death of a 67-year-old Fairmont, NC man has resulted in Robeson County Sheriff’s Office investigators charging two suspects from Lake View, SC. The arrests are in relation to the murder of Larry B. Adams.
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at approximately 2:50 pm, deputies and investigators responded to the 90 block of Affinity Rd., Fairmont, NC in reference to a male shot. Upon the arrival of the deputies, Larry Adams was found in his residence deceased.
On Thursday March 23, 2023, Ashley N. Hayes, 37, of Lake View, was taken into custody at her job in Columbus County by Robeson County Sheriff’s Office investigators. Hayes was arrested and charged with first degree murder, felony conspiracy, four (4) counts of discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling, assault in the presence of a minor and misdemeanor child abuse. Hayes was placed in the custody of the Robeson County Detention Center without bond.
Jessie A. Aceves, 31, of Lake View, was taken into custody on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 after a standoff in Dillon County that lasted several hours. Aceves is charged with first degree murder, felony conspiracy, four counts of discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misdemeanor child abuse.
Aceves is currently charged and being held in the Dillon County Detention Center without bond for the felony charges of possession of firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, discharging a weapon into a vehicle, pointing and presenting a weapon at a person and three counts of attempted murder. Aceves was charged after shots were exchanged with investigators when they approached the residence of Hayes and Aceves. Aceves is also facing criminal charges in Texas.
Aceves will be transferred to the Robeson County Detention Center at the conclusion of his extradition process.
“We again have repeated felony criminal activity from a four-time convicted felon with no respect for law enforcement or the laws of this state or nation,” said Sheriff Burnis Wilkins. “Only by the grace of God are Robeson County Sheriff’s Detective Brandon Patterson, Detective Craig Smith, and a Dillon County Deputy alive after facing multiple rounds of gunfire from convicted felon suspect Jessie Armando Aceves. What’s even more disturbing is that Aceves and his co-defendant suspect, Ashley Hayes shot and killed a man simply watching TV in his own home during a cowardly drive-by shooting while an 9-year-old child was riding along in the car.”
“Aceves is originally from Texas, and this is where his previous convictions occurred. But how many felonies does it take to keep a proven criminal behind bars? How many chances are we going to allow? The system has allowed this man to walk amongst us, and now we have an innocent dead man with grieving family and friends” Wilkins said.
The case was investigated by the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Division.
The Dillon County shooting was investigated by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Fairmont Police Department, Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and Fayetteville Police Department Forensics Unit/Firearms Section assisted with the investigation.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office at (910) 671-3100 or (910) 671-3170.
“Under our system of justice, every person is presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The information contained in this post is not intended to be an expression of opinion regarding guilt. The views and opinions expressed by private citizens who may comment on this post are not adopted by and do not reflect the official policy or position of this law enforcement agency.”
NOTE: The Sheriff’s Office does not issue or determine bond amounts. This is done through a judicial official, such as a judge or magistrate, as per N.C. General Statute 15A-532. Many factors are considered when determining bond amounts.
