Samaj Tojuan Clanton was arrested this morning and jailed without the opportunity for bond. He is expected to have a first court appearance Friday morning.

Tripp said Clanton faces charges of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

The attempted murder counts reflect the shooting of Wilson Green, 17, and Calvin Robinson, 20, who were with the 15-year-old Garner when they were ambushed allegedly by Clanton and at least another person at Eleventh and Maple streets in an area of South Weldon called The Strip. Green and Robinson were treated and released.

Tripp said the sheriff's office still believes Garner's murder and the murder of a 2-year-old child on Cedar Street in Weldon Tuesday morning are related. He declined to say how they were related or name Clanton as a suspect in the Cedar Street matter.

He did tell reporters at a news conference in Halifax that Clanton was familiar with those in The Strip shooting and called it a deliberate crime.

There is a motive in the case, but he declined to expound.

He said Garner's mother was notified that Clanton was arrested and she was pleased. “I don't know if that adequately describes her feelings.”

Tripp declined to say whether there have been more threats of violence in the wake of the shootings, but law enforcement is taking measures to patrol the streets where the shooting occurred by adding more patrols and authorizing overtime. “Emotions are high in South Weldon,” he said.

Investigation continues and more arrests are expected.