Police find 2 people shot dead in home of NC mayor; 2 suspects arrested

Two people were found shot to death at the home of a North Carolina county's mayor, and two suspects have been arrested, authorities said.

Deputies conducted a welfare check Thursday at 72128 NC 33 North West in Tarboro, North Carolina, near Leggett, police said, which according to public records is the home of the town's mayor, Gary Skelton and his wife, Jackie Skelton.

“Detectives found two deceased persons with gunshot wounds on the property,” said Edgecombe County Sheriff Cleveland “Clee” Atkinson Jr. said during a press conference Friday morning.

Police considered the deaths a double homicide. They did not, however, identify the victims at the request of the victims' relatives.

Keith Earl Williams, 25, and Mitchell Brinson, 18, both of Tarboro, were taken into custody shortly after the bodies were discovered, according to ABC affiliate ABC11. They were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, the station reported.

“We were able to solve this double homicide in less than eight hours,” Atkinson Jr. said at the news conference.

The Edgecomb County Sheriff's Office declined to comment on Friday, citing the ongoing investigation.

The Tarboro and Rocky Mount Police Departments, the Nash County Sheriff's Office, and North Carolina Highway Patrol and wildlife officials were helping on the case, according to Atkinson.

“This is a very serious investigation,” Atkinson said. “We will release more information as we are able.”