Teenager arrested after 2 found dead in Gaston County home

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A 17-year-old was charged with killing two people whose bodies were found in a Gaston County home, officials told Channel 9.
 
Officers responded just after midnight Thursday to the home in the 200 block of Salemview Road after the bodies were discovered.

Family told Channel 9 that the two victims, Lashea Coleman, 26, and Derreck Brice, 33, were cousins.

They said Coleman had cerebral palsy and Brice took care of her and her child.

Jose Adan Lopez Rios, of Gastonia, was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

The child's day care told family members Thursday that the child had not been picked up. Family members found the cousins inside the home after they could not reach them by phone.

Officers also found a missing Dodge Charger rented to Brice at the Midtown Motor Inn in Gastonia and did not find a gun.
 
Relatives says Rios was a friend to Brice, the minister of music at his church.
 
Rios will face a judge in court on Monday afternoon. The discussion over bail during that hearing may be the first opportunity to hear the prosecution's motive for the double homicide. 
 
A friend of Rios said Rios called him about 11 p.m. Thursday and that he acted like everything was normal.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Gaston County Police at 704-866-3320 or CrimeStoppers at 704-861-8000.

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