Kemberle Braden

Chief of Police

Release: IMMEDIATE                  Contact:  R. Harrell, Public Information Specialist

Date: February 29, 2024                Phone: (910) 433-1829       OCA: 2024- 004885

All suspects, and persons charged with a crime, are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Persons of interest are believed to have information relating to a case, and have not been charged unless stated otherwise.

Update to Barricaded-Wanted Suspect  

(Fayetteville, NC) - On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, members of the Fayetteville Police Departments Violent Crime Apprehension Team, (VCAT) received information on the location of a suspect wanted in connection to a string of robberies. The investigation led to the residence along the 2500 block of Previs Drive where an eight-hour long negotiation ensued. 

The wanted suspect, has now been identified as Kenneth Earl Young (Black male, 38 years old) of Fayetteville, NC.  

Young is charged with:

• Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon (5 counts)
• Felony Possession of Stolen Property (5 counts) 
• 2nd Degree Kidnapping (5 counts)
• Possession of Firearm by Felon (5 counts) 
• Resisting, delaying, or obstructing an officer (1 count)

Young was denied bond and is being held at Cumberland County Jail.


A second barricaded female suspect was also apprehended and has now been identified as Crystal Ann Kirby (White female, 42 years old) of Fayetteville, NC. 

Kirby was found to have an active order for arrest for Failure to Appear in court. Kirby also was charged with 1 count of Resisting, Delaying, or Obstructing an Officer. Kirby was denied bond and is being held at Cumberland County Jail.

Barricaded-Wanted Suspect

(Fayetteville, NC) – On Tuesday February 27, 2024 members of the Fayetteville Police Department’s Violent Crime Apprehension Team, (VCAT) received information on the location of a suspect wanted in connection to a string of robberies. The investigation led to the residence along the 2500 block of Previs Drive.  

At approximately 3:15 p.m. members of Fayetteville Police Department’s, Violent Criminal Apprehension Team arrived at the residence along the 2500 block of Previs Drive. During the attempt to apprehend, the suspect barricaded himself inside of the residence. The investigation led to the discovery of a second female suspect barricade inside the residence.

Shortly after Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) and Emergency Response Team responded to the scene and began an eight-hour long negotiation. The suspects were apprehended and transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center for evaluations and will later be processed into Cumberland County Jail.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Fayetteville / Cumberland County Crimestoppers at (910) 483-TIPS (8477). Crimestoppers information can also be submitted electronically, by visiting http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org and completing the anonymous online tip sheet, or by downloading the FREE “P3 Tips” app available for Apple devices in the Apple App Store and available for Android devices in Google Play.