news-record.com

BURLINGTON — Police are still looking for a second man wanted for his involvement in the shooting death of a woman Saturday night.

Burlington police say that Brett Allen Cole, 22, of Cane Creek Road in Snow Camp, and an unidentified man in a red mask are allegedly responsible for the death of Brittanny Jernigan, 21, who was shot in the stomach in her apartment on Stout Avenue shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday.

Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting. Authorities initially said that Jernigan was shot during a robbery attempt, but police now say they are not sure if there was a home invasion.

Police also said it was not a random act. Jernigan knew Cole, but authorities haven’t released details about the relationship.

It’s possible she also knew the second man involved as well. Police are hoping someone will come forward with information that will help investigators find him.

There were three other people in Jernigan’s apartment at the time of the shooting. two men and the 4-year-old child of one of the men. They were not injured. Jernigan’s two children and her husband, Steven Jernigan, were not in the apartment at the time, Burlington Police Capt. Steve Smith said.

The state Medical Examiner’s Office was expected to complete an autopsy on Monday, and police think that will help with the case.

Police planned on Monday to canvass the neighborhood near the apartment complex on Stout Avenue, which is near Maple Avenue. Police spoke with people in the area Saturday but wanted to check back to see if anyone had more information.

Cole, who was on supervised probation following a conviction in Alamance County court in November, turned himself into police before midnight on Saturday. He was charged with first-degree murder and is still being held in Alamance County jail under no bond.

Cole’s criminal record dates back to November 2006. Since then, he has been convicted of drug offenses, simple assault, breaking and entering, several counts of larceny after breaking and entering, larceny of firearms and obtaining property by false pretenses.

He was last convicted Nov. 14 in Alamance County of two counts of larceny and misdemeanor breaking and entering. He was given a suspended sentence and placed under 36 months of supervised probation, according to the N.C. Department of Correction.