Third arrest made in Franklin homicide

FRANKLIN, Va. (WAVY) - A third man has been arrested in connection with a November 2012 homicide in Franklin.

According to Lt. T. W. Whitt with the Franklin Police Department, officers responded to Pearl Street around 8:30 p.m. Nov. 8 for a report of shots fired. They found 30-year-old Eric Dewayne Smith suffering from a gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Sol Damacus Burke was arrested Thursday and is facing charges of murder, unlawfully shooting, use of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, shooting with intent to kill, eight counts of maliciously shooting into an occupied dwelling and discharging a firearm in public resulting in injury.

Burke was arrested by the Franklin Police Department with help from US Marshals.

A 17-year-old male from Emporia was arrested in November on charges of first degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, discharging a firearm in public resulting in injury or death and three counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling. He has been remanded to Chesapeake Juvenile Services.

A third suspect, 29-year-old Rowan D. Bluff, of Franklin was arrested in November and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and accessory after the fact of murder. Additional charges are pending at this time and he is incarcerated at Western Tidewater Regional Jail.