Raleigh police charge man with $30K Walmart holdup, 2 others

David Kyreem Turpin, 43, of Raleigh man was charged Wednesday with a $30,000 predawn robbery at a Walmart store and with armed holdups at a Family Dollar store on Monday and a Food Lion grocery store last week.

Police said in arrest warrants that Turpin went into the Walmart at 1725 N. New Hope Road about 5:15 a.m. and was armed with a black semiautomatic handgun. He left with $30,899.56, the charges stated.

Turpin also is accused of using the same gun to hold up the Family Dollar at 3400 New Birch Drive on Monday and the Food Lion at 4327 Falls of Neuse Road on July 18.

Detectives charged that he got $204 from the Family Dollar and about $4,300 from the grocery.

Another charge said Turpin was a felon in possession of a firearm, citing his conviction in November 2008 for being an accessory after the fact in an assault with intent to kill  June 10, 2007.

Initially, police had charged Turpin with murder and attempted murder in the death that day of Damarkos Eugene Alan Thorpe and the shooting of another man in what police said was a disagreement that turned violent.

Turpin served about 2½ years in prison for being an accessory.

Two others were charged with murder and attempted murder in the same case. Nefta Wilson was convicted on an accessory charge, like Turpin.

Arthur Lee Gaines is serving a sentence through 2032 for second-degree murder.

Wednesday, Police also served Turpin with a warrant accusing him of assault on a female in a domestic violence incident on Sunday.

Turpin gave book officials an address of 1414 Brookside Drive.

A magistrate ordered Turpin held unless he can post $2.5 million cash bail. He was scheduled for a first court appearance Thursday.

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 9:55 AM with the headline "Raleigh police charge man with $30K Walmart holdup, 2 others."