First Responder at Alleged Murder Scene Was Victim's Grandfather

A North Carolina man responded to the mysterious scene of two teens found dead in the woods only to discover one of the victims was his missing granddaughter.

Firefighter Stan Dean was called to the scene in Mebane, North Carolina, where the bodies of Devin Clark, 18, and his granddaughter Lyric Woods, 14, were discovered Sunday.

It appeared both teens were shot, police said. Nearby neighbors reported hearing numerous gunshots on Friday evening.

Teen Gun Violence

Woods and Clark are two of the estimated 18,000 children and teens shot and killed or wounded in the United States, according to Everytown for Gun Safety data.

It is estimated that nearly 60 percent of child and teen gun deaths are intentional homicides, or over 2,000 victims a year.

Americans between the ages of 15 to 24 are 23 times more likely to be killed with guns compared to other high-income countries.

'A Tragic Event'

According to police, two men riding four-wheelers discovered the two teens on a trail about 2.5 miles from Woods' home.

Clark and Woods were discovered after both were reported missing by family members over the weekend.

"It's a tragic event that will stay with them forever," Dean's close friend Charles Bullock told local station WRAL-TV.

Bullock, along with a group of veterans and first responders, will be a part of Woods' funeral.

"He wants us there so he can lean on them," Bullock said. "They are holding up the best they can given the circumstances whenever you lose a child or grandchild, one this young it's tough."

In honor of his granddaughter, Dean placed a wooden cross on the side of the road near where her body was discovered. Others have left bouquets of flowers to share their respects.

Hundreds also gathered at a nearby high school for a balloon release in honor of Clark, who was a student at Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane.

Search for the Suspect

On Tuesday, police announced that they had a potential suspect and that a petition was filed against a 17-year-old boy in connection to the crime. The teen is now facing two counts of first-degree murder.

"I want to thank the families of Devin Clark and Lyric Woods for trusting us and the investigative process during this excruciatingly painful time," Sheriff Blackwood said. "I hope the imminent apprehension of this subject will bring them some comfort as they mourn their loved ones."

The investigation remains active and police are asking anyone with additional information to contact Investigator Keith Goodwin at (919) 245-2918.

Newsweek reached out to Stan Dean and the Orange County Sheriff's Office for comment.