Murderer HIJACKS Ambulance, Kills 74-Year-Old

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A convicted murderer who served only five years of a 13-year sentence has now been charged with first-degree murder after hijacking an ambulance and fatally shooting an innocent 74-year-old woman in North Carolina.

Story Highlights

Repeat killer Cheyenne Woods hijacked ambulance mid-transport, crashed into elderly victim’s car
Woods served only 5 years of 13-year murder sentence before 2022 early release
Marie Locklear, 74, was shot without provocation after visiting terminally ill sister
Sheriff calls case “senseless act” highlighting failures in NC’s criminal justice system

Ambulance Hijacking Turns Deadly

Cheyenne Woods, 36, transformed a routine medical emergency into a horrific crime spree on December 13, 2025, in Maxton, North Carolina. While being transported to the hospital by EMS for a medical emergency, Woods brandished a firearm and commandeered the ambulance. He crashed the stolen emergency vehicle into a car driven by Marie Locklear, then exited and fatally shot the 74-year-old woman without any provocation. Locklear died from her injuries after being hospitalized.

The victim had been returning from a Christmas dinner after visiting her terminally ill sister. Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins described the incident as a “deeply disturbing” and “senseless act” committed by a repeat felon who should never have been free to harm innocent citizens.

🚨#BREAKING: A violent, repeat offender in North Carolina, who was previously CONVICTED OF M*RDER, BUT ONLY SERVED 5 YEARS IN PRISON…

…has been arrested AGAIN for hijacking an ambulance from 2 EMS who were trying to save his life, ramming the ambulance into an elderly… pic.twitter.com/Tc4BARTFug

— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) December 15, 2025

Criminal History Reveals System Failures

Woods’ extensive criminal background exposes critical gaps in North Carolina’s justice system. In 2008, he was implicated in the murder-robbery of Jessica Cahoon in Fayetteville but was convicted only of robbery with a dangerous weapon in 2012, securing release in 2016. Most alarmingly, Woods committed another murder in 2010, received a 13-year sentence in 2017, but was released early in 2022 after serving merely five years.

North Carolina’s habitual offender laws allow individuals with multiple felony convictions to face enhanced sentences up to Class C felony levels. However, Woods’ case demonstrates how time-served credits and good behavior provisions enable dangerous criminals to return to the streets prematurely, despite minimum sentencing guidelines that should have kept him incarcerated until at least 2027.

Pattern of Recidivism Across North Carolina

Woods’ case represents a disturbing trend of repeat violent offenders terrorizing North Carolina communities. Recent incidents include the Charlotte light rail stabbings involving career criminals and cases like DeCarlos Brown Jr., who committed armed robbery in 2014, was released in 2020, and was subsequently rearrested for multiple assaults. Research from Arizona State University demonstrates that incarceration prevents 2-5 serious crimes per year per imprisoned offender, supporting stronger three-strikes laws.

The Locklear family now grieves the senseless loss of a woman who was married for 52 years and posed no threat to anyone. Her husband Ronnie and son Donald expressed shock at the random nature of the attack that claimed their beloved family member. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for North Carolina to strengthen its sentencing practices and eliminate loopholes that allow convicted murderers to prey on innocent citizens.