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WRAL.com Authorities Identify Suspect, Victims In Hit-And-Run Incidents Abdullah El-Amin Shareef Accused Of Using Stolen Vehicles To Run Over Pedestrians POSTED: 11:02 AM EDT April 14, 2004 UPDATED: 6:10 PM EDT April 14, 2004 RALEIGH, N.C. -- A man who stole two vehicles and led authorities through three counties was taken into custody Wednesday. One pedestrian was killed and four others were injured during the chase. Authorities say Abdullah El-Amin Shareef stole a city of Fayetteville van and pickup truck and ran over a number of pedestrians Wednesday morning. At 7:52 a.m. Wednesday, Fayetteville police responded to a report of a stolen city of Fayetteville van at 280 Lamon St. Shortly afterward, authorities received a call about an alleged assault at 3908 Naples St. Authorities say Abdullah El-Amin Shareef, driving the stolen van, struck David McCaskill, who was walking his two dogs. Authorities said Shareef attempted to back up the van to strike McCaskill a second time but did not. Shareef reportedly got out of the van and hit McCaskill with his hands. Shareef allegedly left when neighbors began coming out of their houses. "I heard Mr. McCaskill yelling, 'What did I do to you? What did I do to you?'" witness Jenny Renner said. "The guy was beating him up." McCaskill, who survived cancer and five heart bypasses, was later treated and released from Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Authorities say Shareef ran over 56-year-old Lonel Bearl Bass. Bass, a volunteer firefighter, was pronounced dead at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Shareef then reportedly struck 55-year-old Gary Lee Weller with the stolen van near Ramsey Street and Summerchase in Fayetteville. Weller, a former high school football coach at Pine Forest High, was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and was airlifted to University of North Carolina Hospitals. He is listed in critical condition. More than 10 minutes later, the van struck Robert Fortier, who was walking along the roadside of Ramsey Street near Bienville in Cumberland County. He was later treated and released from Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. According to police, Shareef abandoned the van in Cumberland County and later went to 56-year-old Lonel Bearl Bass, who was driving in his 1997 Chevrolet pickup truck, to ask for directions. Authorities say Bass had stopped by to check on dogs at the Linden Hunting Club. Somehow, Shareef was able to get Bass out of his vehicle and proceeded to run him over with the city van. Bass, a volunteer firefighter, was pronounced dead at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Authorities say Shareef was apprehended in Fuquay-Varina. Authorities said at the time of the arrest, he was only wearing a T-shirt and underwear. "It's hard on everybody. The circumstances of the way it happened makes it even worse," said Robert Godwin, Bass' friend. Shareef then drove Bass' pickup truck to Harnett County, where he struck 28-year-old Seth Thompson. He was treated and released from Betsy Johnson Hospital. Shareef traveled through Wake County before hitting a stop sign in Fuquay-Varina. He left the vehicle and police, fire officials and local citizens chased him in a wooded area before he was finally apprehended. "As we were running up the hill, I could tell in my mind that I was gaining on him every minute," said Capt. Scott Daniel, of the Fuquay-Varina Fire Department. "I hollered at him a couple of times trying to get him to stop. Once he didn't stop, I just tackled him." Authorities said at the time of the arrest, Shareef was only wearing a T-shirt and underwear. Shareef was initially taken to the Fayetteville Police Department before being transferred to Dorothea Dix Hospital. He has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and placed under a $500,000 secured bond. Shareef has a history of prior criminal violations, including a DWI and driving with a revoked license in 1998 and a speeding violation in 2003. Reporters: John Bachman , Laurie Clowers and Jason Stoogenke Photographers: Courtney Davis and Chad Flowers OnLine Producer: Kamal Wallace Copyright 2004 by WRAL.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |