Two men found dead and girl, 3, fighting for life after cops spotted blood on steps and smoke coming from apartment

TWO men are dead and a three-year-old girl is fighting for her life after a robbery and arson at an apartment, said police. A suspect is now in custody for the crime.

According to Lexington police, a call was received about smoke coming from an apartment. The caller also reported that there was blood on the steps and a gun in the parking lot.

Due to this information, police forced their way into the home despite the smoke and found two men with life-threatening injuries. One of the men was the little girl’s grandfather, police said. 

They were both pronounced dead at the scene. Police identified them as Lionel Coker, 56, and Robert Lee Stowe, 61.

The three-year-old was found with traumatic injuries. She was rushed to Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem with serious injuries unrelated to the fire.

After police cleared the scene, firefighters from the Lexington Fire Department determined that the home was not on fire. Instead, items were placed on the stove and were smoking.

Police believe the items were placed there intentionally to start a fire to destroy evidence connected to the shooting.

Brian Keith Moses, 54, was arrested Thursday morning. He’s been charged with two counts of murder along with arson and a robbery charge after police noted that cash was stolen from the apartment.

At a press conference, police said they received information from witnesses that assisted them in getting a description of the suspect’s vehicle and possible location, leading to the arrest of Moses.

According to police, the crime wasn’t a random act as Moses knew the two men.

There is evidence of an altercation inside the home before or during the incident, said police.

An investigation is still continuing but it’s believed that the child was being watched by her grandfather at the time of the shooting.