More suspects charged with murder-for-hire in Virginia

DALE CITY, Va. – Prince William County police have announced new developments in the murder investigation into 23-year-old Egypt Zapporah Carter, who was shot and killed in Woodbridge earlier this year. Two more men were charged Monday, bringing the total number of suspects involved in the case to four.

The investigation revealed that Carter’s husband, 34-year-old Lionel Melvin Carter III, who was incarcerated at the time of the murder, orchestrated a plot to kill his wife. Several men were involved in the plan, including 26-year-old Grorethas Gresean McKinnon Jr., 30-year-old Denzel Scott Wade and 27-year-old Drew Courtney Buchanan. These men were either directly involved in carrying out the murder, were present during the crime, or helped organize the murder.

The murder occurred on Feb. 2 when Carter was lured to the area of ​​Bronson Court and Brickwood Drive in Woodbridge under the false pretense of picking up prescription narcotics for her husband. Instead, she was ambushed in her car and shot.

On Monday, the grand jury indicted Lionel Carter, McKinnon, Wade and Buchanan. All four men, who are currently incarcerated on unrelated charges, face serious charges including aggravated murder, use of a firearm in a felony and conspiracy to commit murder. Wade and McKinnon were charged along with Carter and Buchanan, who were previously arrested in October.

The victim, Egypt Zapporah Carter, was from Burlington, North Carolina. Her death has been the focus of an ongoing investigation and authorities continue to urge anyone with information to come forward.

All suspects currently remain in custody awaiting their court dates. Anyone with further details about the case is asked to contact the Prince William County Police Department.