Police arrest 4th suspect in killing of man found in burning car

Police arrested a fourth suspect early Friday in the killing of a man whose body was found in the trunk of a burning car in Gaston County.

Jay Phifer, 39, was arrested without incident in Durham by State Bureau of Investigation agents and the Durham County SWAT Team, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said.

Phifer was wanted on warrants for murder, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, kidnapping and breaking and entering.

Norris Martin’s body was found in a burning car last week near the Gaston County town of Ranlo. Three other men have been accused in connection with his killing and with shooting and seriously injuring another man at the same time.

Police previously charged two other men, Marquez Breon Springs-Owens, 29, and James Evans, 28, in Martin’s death. Another suspect, Germonta Wallace, 30, died in a home off Remount Road on Sunday night during a firefight with eight Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers who had come to arrest him.

Phifer will be served with the outstanding warrants and returned to Mecklenburg County, police said. Police said they have no timetable for his return.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 704-432-TIPS (8477) and speak directly to a homicide detective. Or call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 1:32 PM with the headline "Police arrest 4th suspect in killing of man found in burning car."