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North Carolina Murder Suspect Arrested In NYC

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A North Carolina man wanted on charges of murder and rape has been arrested in New York City.

Kendrick Keyanti Gregory, 21, of Raleigh, was arrested Tuesday, one day after a string of crimes in the Raleigh area, police said.

It didn't take long for officers to arrest Gregory, after a 55-year-old woman reported her vehicle stolen near Warren Street and Broadway in Lower Manhattan.

The Honda Pilot was equipped with a GPS tracking system, which could be accessed using a phone app, police said.

One of the arresting officers downloaded the app, plugged in the victim's login information and discovered the car was crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, police said. The officers eventually tracked down the car in Boerum Hill, where Gregory was arrested on Smith Street between Pacific and Dean streets, police said.

North Carolina Murder Suspect Arrested In NYC
Police said officers Erik Skoglund, Adam Riddick, and Andrew Vlasaty arrested Kendrick Gregory after a woman reported her car stolen in Lower Manhattan. (credit: NYPD)

Officers found two .45-caliber handguns in his possession, one stuffed in his pocket and another stowed beneath the driver's seat, police said.

Gregory faces grand larceny and weapons possession charges in New York. It wasn't clear if he had a lawyer who could comment on the charges.

He is charged with murder, rape, two robberies and an assault with intent to kill in North Carolina.

Thomas Melvin Durant, 64, was killed at his pawn shop around 7 p.m. Monday, Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue said. Police think Gregory was involved in the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl shortly after Durant was killed.

Gregory is also charged with robbing Durant and another man who was attacked earlier Monday.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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