HIGH POINT, N.C. — Two men have been arrested and charged by High Point police in separate death by distribution cases recently, HPPD said.
Tyler S. Hazelwood, 34, was arrested for the 2024 drug overdose that killed a 29-year-old man, according to police.
Hazelwood was charged with felony death by distribution and felony possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver a schedule II controlled substance.
He is being held on a $500,000 bond.
In a separate case, police arrested Abdullah Kindle, 38, for another overdose that killed a 29-year-old man, police said.
Police said officers delivered naloxone to the victim and tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead on the scene.
Kindle was charged with felony death by distribution and felony possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver a schedule II controlled substance.
A Wilson man received more than five years in prison after pleading guilty in the county’s first death by distribution case, following the fentanyl overdose death of a 25-year-old Navy veteran.
A Wilson man was sentenced Monday to an active term in state prison after pleading guilty to the first death by distribution case to be adjudicated in Wilson County.
Tabron Tyrone Farmer, 35, of the 5100 block of Wilson Road, made an Alford plea July 29 to death by distribution in the June 25, 2023, death of 25-year-old Shade Izayah Anthonee Staples. An Alford plea is an arrangement in which the defendant doesn’t admit guilt but acknowledges there is likely enough evidence to ensure a conviction
In Wilson County Criminal Superior Court on Monday, Resident Superior Court Judge L. Lamont Wiggins sentenced Farmer to a minimum of five years and seven months to a maximum of seven years and nine months active in the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.
Farmer is the first person to be sentenced in Wilson in a death by distribution case since modifications in the death by distribution law were ratified in September 2023, providing for stiffer sentences for defendants who unlawfully deliver certain controlled substances that proximately cause a person’s death.
Assistant District Attorney Kristen Spainhour told the court that on the date of his death Staples had consumed three beers at Brewmasters at lunchtime, at which time he called Farmer asking to purchase Percocet pills.
Spainhour said Staples walked to a nearby store to meet Farmer. Staples purchased two blue pills from Farmer. Spainhour said the transaction was captured on video, adding he thought he was purchasing Percocet.
Spainhour told the court that the defendant called the victim shortly thereafter saying that he thought he had given him the wrong package, that he “thought he messed up.”
At 2:22 p.m. on the date of his death, family members noticed that Staples’ speech was slurred while he was playing a video game with his sister, Spainhour said. Staples “slumped over on the couch” and was not moving and his eyes had rolled back, Spainhour told the court.
First responders could not revive Staples despite giving him the overdose reversal medication naloxone.
Spainhour said fentanyl was determined to be the cause of death.
Spainhour said the victim’s family was “devastated” by the loss.
Defense attorney Andrew Boyd told the court that his client pleaded guilty as a result of a plea arrangement in which lesser charges were dismissed.
Boyd told the court that Farmer has 12 children, is married and that his wife was in court for the sentencing.
“There is nothing we could say that would bring Shade Staples back,” Boyd said.
Farmer was ordered to pay $2,975 in counsel fees to attorney Boyd.
Wiggins revoked Farmer’s bond and ordered him taken into custody.
STAPLES A NAVY VETERAN
After the sentencing, Staples’ mother, Taira Gandarilla, formerly of Wilson and now residing in Knightdale, told the Times that her son was a Navy veteran.
“It is kind of bittersweet,” Gandarilla said. “Regardless of the outcome, it’s not going to bring Shade back, but it is very rewarding as a mother to know that even though my son sacrificed his life, we can definitely prevent somebody else from losing their life as a result of this young man’s carelessness.”
Gandarilla said it was comforting to her that other parents of Fentanyl overdose victims were in the courtroom at the time of the sentencing.
Ten families of Wilson County fentanyl overdose victims were present in the court for Monday’s hearing.
Gandarilla said that until Monday, she did not know this group existed.
“You guys didn’t know me from Sunday, and to know that I already have a family is incredibly comforting,” Gandarilla said. “You can go through therapy all day long, but the best therapy is to go through it with people who have walked in your shoes. We have than commonality that is going to forever bond us.”
Gandarilla said her son was “first and foremost a brother.”
“Shade absolutely coveted the relationship that he had with his sisters. He was the oldest of four siblings. He had three younger sisters, and those were his girls. He was incredibly family oriented. He was an old soul. For a 25-year-old man, he literally saw the world differently than anybody else I had ever met. He just saw things from a different lens. He was always asking questions. He wanted to learn as much as possible every single day.”
Two other death by distribution cases are pending in Wilson County.
Wilson County has had 151 fentanyl fatalities since 2013, according to Barb Walsh of the Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina. She was with parents of overdose victims who were at the courthouse.
Mike Loomis, founder of Race Against Drugs, is having one of the best weeks of his life four years after the worst day of his life.
Loomis and his wife lost their son, James, to fentanyl poisoning in April 2021. Since that day, they have been channeling their pain, anger and frustration into educating people on the dangers of opioid addiction, supporting those in need of recovery and advocating for public access of naloxone, otherwise known as Narcan.
Loomis has been an ever-present fixture at the Davidson County Opioid Settlement Funds committee, the Davidson County Board of Commissioners, the Davidson County Board of Education meetings and other events. He has been vocal about the need for access to Narcan in the community, including in the schools.
He says it has been an uphill battle, but this week he feels he has made some significant progress with county leadership.
“It’s about time the county commissioners, the schools and the community have come together to provide this life-saving cog in saving lives,” said Loomis.
On Monday, the Davidson County Schools Board of Education approved a new policy for the use of naloxone in emergency situations to prevent opioid overdose death. The proposed policy states each school in the district should have an adequate supply stored in a secure, yet accessible location. The policy includes training one or more employee at each school as part of the medical care program in the emergency use of Narcan.
“I would like to thank the superintendent and the school board for considering this policy,” said Loomis. “This is only one cog in saving a life in Davidson County. Right now, we are at around 480 people in Davidson County who have died because of fentanyl. The highest growing number of deaths are from 14- to 17-year-olds; these are your students, these are your children.”
This policy will be under review for the next 30 days before final approval by the Davidson County Schools Board of Education.
Narcan has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration as safe to use for the life-saving application during a suspected opioid overdose and can be administered to anyone regardless of their age.
On Thursday, the Davidson County Board of Commissioners continued their discussion on using opioid settlement funds for supporting school programs and whether to hire a full-time coordinator to oversee the use of the opioid settlement funds.
The commissioners heard from Davidson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Gregg Slate about the pending Narcan policy, as well as other potential early prevention programs through the schools.
Slate said the schools are working on developing a sustainable and vetted medical source to supply Narcan, as well as, estimating costs of training. He said the district has also considered parent and caregiver education, opioid awareness and prevention programming for students, as well as professional development for staff.
“We looked a variety of different things, from the front end and the back end,” said Slate. “We’ve already started the conversation…We are trying to be on the forefront of this as far as school districts go because I think it is important.”
The commissioners voiced strong support of the new Narcan policy and asked Slate to bring back a proposal on using opioid settlement funds to purchase supplies and training staff on its use.
Due to a scheduling conflict, the superintendents from Lexington City Schools and Thomasville City Schools, could not participate in the discussion on Thursday, but are scheduled to appear at a county commissioner meeting in September.
Davidson County Manager Casey Smith said there were not a whole lot of options in the state for consultants specifically for management of opioid settlement funds, but there was a group in Asheville, the Mount Area Health Education Center, that did offer training and development of impact strategies.
The commissioners decided they would like to hear more information from the MAHEC in a future meeting before making any further decision on deciding on whether to hire a full-time coordinator or use of consultation services.
Loomis says he supports the hiring of a coordinator rather than a consultant.
“They have enough money in the (opioid settlement fund) to hire a legitimate manager. Commissioners may come and go, but a full-time coordinator will know everyone involved and what is needed for this community,” said Loomis.
To cap off this week of encouraging progress in the fight against opioid addiction, Race Against Drugs will be holding a special event on Saturday.
A Day of Recovery will be on Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Breeden Insurance Amphitheater in Lexington.
The annual event includes representation from local law enforcement, the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office, Daymark Recovery Services, Davidson County Medical Ministries, Davidson County Emergency Services,the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health, Goodwill Industries, several local churches and other non-profit organizations.
It will also include live entertainment, food trucks, play area for kids, games and door-prizes.
Loomis said he is thankful for all the support of those involved in the Day of Recovery, the county commissioners and the Davidson County Schools. He said he is encouraged with the progress made towards opioid awareness and prevention, but he has no plans to stop advocating for those touched by fentanyl addiction.
“I don’t want to be a pain in the ass to people, but I will to save a life,” said Loomis.
RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — Two women have been indicted after a child died by overdose, according to authorities.
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office says they were called to a home in Asheboro in May about a juvenile overdose. EMS and fire personnel were already on scene performing life-saving measures when deputies arrived to assist, and the victim was taken to a hospital. The child was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Investigators found drug paraphernalia at the home and sought charges against the victim’s mother, Carrie Jo Graves, 36, and Amy Lee Locklear, 42.
The two women were both indicted by a grand jury in July. Graves was indicted for second-degree murder without regard, and Locklear was indicted for felony involuntary manslaughter.
On July 31, deputies traveled to Robeson and Cumberland Counties to take the two into custody.
Both Graves and Locklear were already wanted for failing to appear in Cumberland County, and Locklear had an additional arrest order for failing to appear in Robeson County.
Graves was taken into custody in Parkton without incident and transported back to Randolph County. She was given no bond.
Locklear was taken into custody in Saint Pauls and brought back to Randolph County. She was given a $362,000 secured bond for the various charges.
On May 11, 2024, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office responded to King Mountain Rd., Asheboro, in reference to a juvenile overdose/cardiac arrest. Deputies assisted EMS and fire personnel, who were already on scene performing life-saving measures on a juvenile victim. The victim was then transported to an area hospital, where the victim was pronounced deceased a short time later.
While gathering information about the incident, paraphernalia for Narcotic purposes was observed. Detectives with Criminal Investigations and Crime Scene responded to collect any evidence for further investigation.
Following the investigation, charges were sought against Carrie Jo Graves (mother of the juvenile) and Amy Lee Locklear.
During the July session of the Randolph County Grand Jury, a true bill of indictment was issued on Graves for felony second-degree murder without regard, and a true bill of indictment was issued on Locklear for felony involuntary manslaughter. This indictment was issued as a result of the investigation.
On July 31, 2025, the Criminal Apprehension Team and others traveled to Robeson and Cumberland Counties in an attempt to locate and apprehend Graves and Locklear.
Graves also had an order for arrest out of Cumberland County for failing to appear on a misdemeanor.
Locklear had an order for arrest for failing to appear on a felony in Robeson County and an order for arrest for failing to appear on a felony, as well as an additional failure to appear on a misdemeanor, both in Cumberland County.
Graves was apprehended at a residence on Tawdry Ln., Parkton, NC, without incident. She was subsequently transported to the Randolph County Detention Center, where she was taken before the magistrate, who issued a first appearance of August 1, 2025, in Randolph County District Court with no bond being set due to the nature of the charges, as well as a first appearance of August 8, 2025, with a $1,000 secured bond in the Cumberland County case.
Locklear was apprehended at a residence located on King Tuck Rd., Saint Pauls, NC, without incident and was subsequently transported to the Randolph County Detention Center, where the magistrate issued a first appearance of August 11, 2025, and a secured bond of $350,000 in the Randolph County case; a first appearance of August 29, 2025, with $7,000 secured in Cumberland County; and lastly a first appearance of August 20, 2025, and a secured bond of $5,000 in Robeson County for a total secured bond of $362,000.
