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CMPD names 2 suspects in corrections officer's killing

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Mecklenburg police have named two suspects in the murder of a corrections officer at his southwest Charlotte apartment earlier in June.

Police say they have signed warrants charging Raphael and Trevor White with murder in the death of Bias Easley on Farmhurst Drive.

Sources have told Eyewitness News that Easley's murder may be tied to a gang hit ordered from a prison in Anson County where Easley was a guard, but CMPD says they have not found any evidence tying gang activity in that prison to Easley's murder.

Read more about possible gang activity at Lanesboro Correctional Institute.

Police sources say that in fact, Easley was killed two days after he had a confrontation with one of the suspects at a convenience store close to his apartment.

Easley was supposed to be married in July, and on Wednesday his fiancée told Eyewitness News that Easley had told her in February about rumors that suddenly seemed very real.

"He told me there was a hit out in the prison," Dawn McCormick said.

She said Easley did not believe he was the target of any such hit.

As she and her family visited his grave at a north Charlotte cemetery they said they are simply glad that police have identified the suspects, and hope they will turn themselves in.

"That one bullet ended a person's life that was just too soon.  I don't understand why. I pray for them," said McCormick's mother, Gladys Cox.

"Yes.  You've got to get justice. Justice must be served," McCormick added.

Read our past coverage:

Correctional officer, father of 2 killed in shooting

Family of slain corrections officer wants killer caught

CMPD wants to question man after correctional officer's murder