CHARLOTTE — Gang members accused of targeting and killing a Lake Wylie couple may have been watching a reporter covering their alleged crimes.
Court documents lay out daily life details of the reporter the gang was tracking.
Doug and Debbie London were shot to death at their home back in October. Investigators said members of the gang called United Blood Nation killed the couple to keep them from testifying about an armed robbery at their mattress store.
According to police, accused gang member Jamell Cureton played a role in the May armed robbery. He was in jail when the Londons were slain, but court records said he ordered the killings.
Channel 9 has reported photos of judges and Charlotte's city attorney were found in Cureton's jail cell.
Now, court documents reveal gang members have been watching a reporter covering the case.
An inmate housed with Cureton told investigators Cureton keeps documents in his cell mixed in with his legal materials.
He told them "Cureton has started a file on a news reporter who keeps talking about the homicide case."
According to court documents, Cureton had specific detail about the reporter, calling him a "skinny white boy" who chain smokes, has slick back hair and drives a burgundy car.
Investigators later found out the reporter doesn't drive a burgundy car but smokes near one while at work.
Two days after the inmate interview, investigators were able to identify the reporter, but they haven't said who he is.
Our news partners at the Rock Hill Herald said the FBI contacted the newspaper earlier this year and asked they be aware of gang discussions about a reporter.
The editor told Channel 9 by phone that the FBI did not name a specific reporter and investigators told him no specific threat was made.
Investigators said they have reason to believe the United Blood Nation has a reporter under surveillance, but the editor said that has not changed the paper's security measures or stopped it from reporting about the case.
The FBI says the agency took the gang's surveillance seriously.
"There was no specific threat, but out of an abundance of caution, the FBI took additional measures and contacted the person we believed they were describing to make him aware the group we were investigating was aware of his reporting," an FBI representative said.
The investigation is ongoing.
Past coverage:
- Letters detail suspected gang member's hit on Lake Wylie couple
- 2 suspected gang members accused of killing Lake Wylie couple appear in court
- CMPD: Cureton, accused of Lake Wylie couple's murder, also suspect in 2013 killing
- Judge to review evidence seized from accused gang member's jail cell
- Man accused of ordering Lake Wylie couple's killings pleads not guilty
WSOC
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