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Hitmen paid to kill woman in Virginia murder plot: police
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Hitmen paid to kill woman in Virginia murder plot: police

Prince William County Police announced Monday that the death of a woman earlier this year was part of a murder plot.

Egypt Zapporah, 23 years old Carter was shot and killed while in her car in a quiet Woodbridge neighborhood on Feb. 2 around 2 a.m.

On Monday, investigators said there were two men she didn’t know about paid to end his life.

Neighbors who have been following the case for nearly nine months say they are devastated.

“It’s horrible, people will do anything for money,” said a neighbor who said she was leaving for work at 3 a.m. on the night of the February murder and saw police and an ambulance. “It’s horrible to take an innocent life like this. Women need to be careful, you can’t be out here traveling alone at night – you really need to be careful. I’m glad you’re covering this because it’s so important.”

Police arrested Drew Buchanan, 27, on Oct. 15 and charged him with 2nd degree murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

He is being held without bond.

Denzel Wade, who investigators said was with Buchanan at the time of the murder, is wanted for conspiracy to commit a felony.

Both men are from Woodbridge.

Detectives said the men did not know Carter – but were hired by someone who did – to kill her.

“Fortunately, the individual in custody is our shooter and he was the one who was requested to commit the act, while our second outstanding suspect was essentially with him at the time,” said Lt. Jonathan Perok of Prince William County Police.

Perok said investigators knew it was an unusual case and not a random shooting fairly quickly because nothing was taken or disturbed — and they had been actively investigating it for more than eight months.

A dog was in the car with Carter at the time – unharmed and taken to animal control.

Police said Carter had ties to the area, but lived in Burlington, North Carolina, and it’s still unclear why she was in Woodbridge that night or who called the hit on her.

Investigators said they plan to charge more people in the case in the coming weeks.