ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C.--- The impact of suspect Sam Cooper's criminal activities stretches across eastern and central North Carolina.

Police said Cooper, who was arrested after a bank robbery and charged in five local murders, may also be connected to two violent home invasions and shootings in Rockingham County earlier this year.

Discuss This Story

Read More - Bank Robber Charged With 5 Murders

Back on Nov. 4th, at 1 a.m. in the town of Reidsville deputies were called for reports of a shooting.

Investigators say two men had broken into a house, waiting for residents to come home so they could rob them.

Police allege one of those suspects was Sam Cooper. The robbery turned into a shooting and the two residents of the home were shot in the head.

“We found one shooting victim was outside the house,” said Captain Perry Brookshire of the  Rockingham County Sheriff's office.  “He escaped and went to a neighbors. The other was located inside the residence still suffering from a gunshot.”

One of the victims is paralyzed. The other remains hospitalized.

Back in October, there was another home invasion in the Rockingham County town of Wentworth. Eight people were bound and two others shot.

Detectives are checking to see if Cooper was involved in that, too.

 In Wake County, one of the  murders involved 34-yr-old Tim Barnwell. He  was found shot multiple times outside his Raleigh Apartment.

Tonight the Barnwell family minister released a statement from the family that said, “The capture of Cooper opens old wounds for the family who are dealing with mixed feelings including relief that the accused killer of their only son has been caught.”

Read Steve Sbraccia's blog, "Between the Lines"