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COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. — An alleged car attack in Columbus County has led to attempted murder charges against a Whiteville man.
Earl James Whitman Jr., 43, of 119 Fairfield Dr. East, was booked into the county detention center at 2:41 p.m. Monday, according to arrest reports. He faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and property damage.
The allegations stem from a reported confrontation at a residence on Thompson Town Road. Investigators say Whitman used a Chevrolet Cavalier in an effort to run over Mickey Ray Duncan and Jonathan Edward Sealey. Tony Hobbs’ livestock fence was also damaged in the same incident, with reports estimating the cost at around $500.
What led to the encounter has not been publicly explained. The sheriff’s office has not said whether Whitman and the two alleged victims knew each other or whether there was a dispute before the car was used. The News has reached out to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and will update this article if more information is released.
Attempted first-degree murder is not a simple charge. In North Carolina, first-degree murder requires an intentional, premeditated and deliberate killing. Attempted first-degree murder requires proof that a person intended to kill and took a direct step toward carrying out that intent.
In practice, that means prosecutors will need to show Whitman did not merely drive erratically or aggressively. They will need to show he meant to kill the two victims and that using the car was a deliberate act.
A vehicle can also be considered a deadly weapon under North Carolina law. Courts in the state have long ruled that a car or truck can qualify as a deadly weapon depending on how it is used. A driver who deliberately speeds toward someone at close range creates a foreseeable risk of death, even though a car is not normally treated as a weapon. That principle is central to the assault with a deadly weapon charge and to the attempted murder counts.
Defense attorneys in similar cases often look at surveillance video, cellphone evidence and witness observations to determine whether a driver swerved to avoid someone or intentionally aimed at them. The reported damage to the fence could also become a key detail. If the car struck the fence while turning narrowly to avoid the victims, the defense could argue the physical evidence does not support an intent to kill.
The location may also influence how the case is viewed. The alleged incident happened at a residential property on Thompson Town Road, not on a busy highway. That makes the case feel more personal and could affect how a jury interprets the driver’s actions.
Whitman’s criminal history includes a prior arrest for possession of crystal methamphetamine. In 2024, he was arrested after authorities say he burned a rug, mattress and chairs at his mother’s residence and threatened to burn the home. Public records do not make clear how that matter was resolved.
In 2025, Whitman was involved in a break-in arrest at his home in a different role. Reports say his dog cornered the suspected intruder and held him until deputies arrived, and Whitman helped law enforcement during that response. The outcome of that incident is not part of the current charging documents.
As of Saturday, May 9, 2026, a bond amount had not been listed in the arrest reports reviewed by the News, and no next court date had been posted in online records. It was not immediately clear whether Whitman had hired an attorney or would be assigned one.
Bail proceedings in a case like this are often closely watched. A judge must weigh the seriousness of the charges, the defendant’s prior record and the safety of the community. Attempted murder charges can result in a high bond or no bond if a judge finds that no conditions would reasonably protect the public.
If convicted of attempted first-degree murder, Whitman faces a substantial prison sentence. The charge is among the most serious in North Carolina’s criminal code, short of completed homicide. A conviction on the assault with a deadly weapon count could add more time if the judge orders sentences to run consecutively.
The property damage charge is less severe, but it gives prosecutors a way to include all of the alleged conduct in one case. The reported fence damage, when paired with the alleged attempt to hit two people, could be used to show that the driver made no effort to control the car.
All charges against Whitman are accusations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. The trial process will allow both sides to examine the evidence, cross-examine witnesses and test the reliability of the identification.
For residents near Thompson Town Road, the case has raised uneasy questions about safety on a residential street. Law enforcement has not indicated that there is any ongoing threat to neighbors, but people with information about the incident are encouraged to contact the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.
This is a developing story. The News will continue to follow the case as court dates are scheduled and additional records are released.
