Man accused of driving off with ex-girlfriend's children in Lumberton; chase ends in I-440 crash

A man is charged with kidnapping his ex-girlfriend's two children in Lumberton then crashing the car on Interstate 440 in Raleigh.

Shiferaw Lemons, 24, allegedly kidnapped a 1-year-old and 4-year-old just before 4 p.m. from an Econo Lodge in Lumberton. The children's mother called 911 and described the man and his vehicle to dispatchers.

Investigators learned the children's mother had driven them to the Econo Lodge to return items to Lemons after a recent breakup. The mother told police Lemons reached into the car, pulled her out and drove off with the children.

Authorities said Lemons failed to stop at a traffic stop and a chase ensued into Johnston County, eventually sending Johnston County deputies into Raleigh.

The man was placed in handcuffs after crashing into a tractor-trailer along Interstate 440 near the Brentwood Road exit with the children in the car.

Scanner traffic indicates he was driving as fast as 120 mph.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol spotted the man's vehicle before an Amber Alert was issued.

The children were treated at WakeMed and released.

Lemons faces more than a dozen criminal charges from the Lumberton Police Department and the Johnston County Sheriff's Office, including:

Lumberton Police Department:

• First- degree kidnapping (2 counts)
• Larceny of a motor vehicle (1 count)
• Assault on a female (1 count)

Johnston County Sheriff's Office:

• Flee/elude arrest with motor vehicle (1 count)
• Speeding (1 count)
• Reckless driving with wanton disregard (1 count)
• No operators license (1 count)
• Misdemeanor child abuse (2 counts)
• Improper passing on right (1 count)
• Unsafe lane change (1 count)
• Child not in rear seat (1 count)

The investigation is ongoing.

Lemons has a long criminal conviction history, including two felony charges for assault on a law enforcement officer and felony common law robbery. He was released from prison in October.

The Lumberton Police Department said, "We are thankful for our partners at the NCSHP, the FBI, and the Johnston County Sheriff's Office for their quick response."