Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton told members of the media Monday that the county was offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects responsible for shooting a 4-year-old boy in a home invasion last Friday. Gov. Bev Perdue's office has added up to $5,000 more. (Sherry Matthews/Sampson Independent)

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Gov. Bev Perdue’s office has joined Sampson County in offering financial incentive to anyone with information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for shooting a 4-year-old boy during a home invasion last Friday night.

Sheriff’s Capt. Eric Pope said Tuesday afternoon that the Governor’s Office will offer up to $5,000 in reward money. That will be coupled with up to $5,000 being offered by Sampson County for information on the same violent incident.

“We are hoping this will be the incentive someone needs to come forward with information they may have on this home invasion,” stressed Sheriff Jimmy Thornton. “This should make it a little easier for someone who might have been reluctant to offer what they know. Everything boils down to money these days, and the right information, information that will lead to the arrest and conviction, will come with a reward.”

The youngster, whose name is still being withheld, remained on life support Tuesday afternoon, four days after he was shot by an intruder who broke into the Plantation Lane mobile home where he lived and shot through a bedroom door being barricaded by the child’s father, striking the 4-year-old.

During a press conference Monday, where Thornton made an impassioned plea for assistance from the community, the sheriff also noted how often people talk about crimes, stressing that someone within Sampson County has information that will be valuable in helping law enforcement officers solve the case.

“People talk. I’m confident that someone in our community knows something, and I’m asking them to come forward,” Thornton attested.

He reiterated that call for assistance Tuesday. “We know some people are hesitant to come forward for a variety of reasons. They may be fearful of retaliation; they may be worried about their own legal status, but that should not matter. If they have knowledge of this tragic situation, they should share it. There is absolutely no reason they can’t come forward. If they don’t share it, these kind of incidents will not stop.”

Thornton offered his thanks to Perdue’s office for offering the reward. “This just might make it a little easier for someone to come forward.”