Cops in North Carolina are trying to piece together why a local real estate agent turned from selling homes to going on a shocking crime spree that left three people dead in two different neighborhoods. The suspect, 55-year-old David Lever, had no known connection to the victims, making the case even more baffling.
The Pitt County Sheriff, Paula Dance, spoke to reporters at a press conference streamed online. She described a chaotic scene that spanned five or six locations across Greenville, about 85 miles from Raleigh. Lever is facing three counts of murder, and investigators believe more charges are likely.
The events started Friday afternoon around 1:20 p.m. when Lever’s first victim, 64-year-old Enrique Reyes, came home from grocery shopping. Surveillance cameras captured Lever, who lived a few doors down from Reyes, walking back and forth to Reyes’ house. Authorities say the two men didn’t know each other aside from being neighbors. Minutes later, Lever allegedly shot and killed Reyes in his driveway.
From there, Lever got into his van and drove to a gas station. On the way back, he reportedly started shooting out of his van. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the random gunfire led to a 911 call that tipped off police something was wrong.
Lever’s next stop was a home on Peace Ridge Court, about four miles from his own house. He knocked on the door, but the residents didn’t answer. They later told police they didn’t recognize him. Before leaving, Lever allegedly fired shots into another house on the same street.
Afterward, Lever drove to the home of Anthony Gribble, 80, and his wife, Paula Gribble, 76, who lived nearby. Tragically, he is accused of killing the elderly couple. Investigators are still trying to figure out if Lever knew the Gribbles or why he targeted them.
The Gribbles’ son, who was in the area, rushed to their home and managed to hold Lever at gunpoint until police arrived. By then, deputies were already searching Lever’s neighborhood. Around 3:35 p.m., a passerby called 911 to report seeing Reyes’ body in his driveway. Since deputies were nearby, they quickly responded and confirmed Reyes was dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
Inside Lever’s home, investigators found a massive arsenal of firearms—more than 50 handguns and rifles—along with several loaded guns and ammunition in his van. Sheriff Dance said it would take time to comb through all the evidence and figure out what drove Lever to carry out these horrific acts.
Authorities believe Lever wasn’t finished and likely had plans to harm more people if the Gribbles’ son hadn’t stopped him. Sheriff Dance emphasized the importance of that intervention, saying, “Had he not been caught at the Gribbles’ home, we believe he would have gone on to kill more people.”
Lever’s erratic behavior didn’t end there. During his first court appearance on Monday, he cursed at the judge and stormed out of the courtroom. The once-respected businessman is now in the Pitt County Detention Center, held without bond.
Lever had been well-regarded in the community as a partner at Lever & Russel Real Estate LLC, a company that owns multiple properties in Greenville. Now, his actions have left residents shocked and searching for answers. A woman who answered the phone at the real estate firm declined to comment when asked about Lever’s arrest.
For now, authorities are left trying to unravel what led to this tragic and senseless spree of violence.
