Spring Lake chase suspect released on bail for 2023 murder, faces new charges

SPRING LAKE, N.C. (WTVD) – As 25-year-old Darren Powell faces new charges in connection with a fatal high-speed crash in Spring Lake over the weekend, neighbors are speaking out saying they believe he should not have been released on bail while he awaits trial in a murder case.

Powell faces charges of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder for a shooting last July that left a woman dead.

According to court documents, investigators believe both Powell and a man named Hakeem Wilson fired shots at a home on Mammoth Drive in Fayetteville while two men were inside. A neighbor named Barbara Adair, who was driving a car in the area, was shot.

Charges have been filed against Powell and Wilson. Powell is charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West told ABC11 his office argued against Powell's release while he awaits his murder trial. But back in October, Judge Luis “Lou” Olivera signed a pretrial release order granting Powell a $350,000 bail.

“We had argued that the defendant should remain in custody because he posed a danger to the community,” West said.

Powell paid bail and agreed to several conditions for pretrial release. He was placed under house arrest and required to wear an ankle monitor. He was not allowed to leave Cumberland County. He was not allowed to consume or possess alcohol.

On Saturday, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, he violated several of those laws when they caught him speeding at 110 mph (177 km/h) on Highway 87 in Harnett County, twice the speed limit on that stretch of highway.

Troopers tried to stop him, but they said he sped off toward Cumberland County, where Highway 87 becomes North Bragg Boulevard. When he got to the intersection of N. Bragg and McKenzie, the light was red. Troopers said he tried to get around stopped traffic and ended up crashing into another car, killing the car's passenger, Delfina Sanchez, and seriously injuring that car's driver.

Powell then crashed into a light pole and his car caught fire. Cops said they pulled him from the car and he was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Cops said they believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.

“This is the type of thing we want to prevent. It's just frustrating and very sad for the victim and his family in this case,” West told ABC11.

Powell now faces three additional charges: speeding, reckless driving and evading arrest resulting in death.

He appeared in court on Monday to have his bail revoked, but has yet to appear in court on the new charges because he was readmitted to hospital on Tuesday.

West said his office is still deciding whether to seek the death penalty against Powell for Adair's killing.

ABC11 went to the neighborhood where Adair was shot. Neighbors told us she lived in that neighborhood and remembered her as a kind woman.

One of the neighbors, Ash Thomas, said his wife and four-month-old daughter were at home across the street when the shooting started last July. He said his wife called him when the gunfire rang out.

“I was terrified. I was worried for her safety. I didn't know how this was going to end and my first thought was I need to get home,” Thomas told ABC11. His wife and child were not injured in the shooting, but Thomas said they were shaken.

Another woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she witnessed the shooting and had to run away when the shots were fired.

“It was scary because I didn't know I could have been shot. I had to get out so I could get shot and then I ran,” she said.

Both neighbors were disappointed to hear that their neighbor's suspected killer was charged with killing another person while on bail during the chase.

“I find it puzzling how he could escape and then commit another crime of such seriousness,” Thomas said.

ABC11 will be at Powell's next court date and will continue to follow this story.