WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — New details surface in a double murder investigation in Winston-Salem.
Winston-Salem's Police Chief is speaking out about why the main suspect in this case was released from jail three days before he allegedly killed two people.
Officers arrested 18-year-old Ryan Prudente days before the deadly shooting.
"His bond was set at a higher level of the guidelines which was $50,000. Which is not enough and he was released and then the same folks who put him in jail Wednesday along with our detectives had to put him in jail for a more serious crime Saturday," Chief William Penn Jr. said.
Prudente faced 11 felony drug charges, including a charge for having a weapon of mass destruction.
Tuesday, the police chief said he wants to take action to increase those guidelines.
"I can't speak to the whole, what I can speak about is the police department. They are working hard. All of us have to do better. There has to be a way for us to keep violent offenders in jail to keep our communities safe," Penn said.
Investigators charged Prudente with shooting and killing two people on Barnes Road in Winston-Salem on Dec. 9.
Three other juveniles are also charged in this case.
The bodies of 20-year-old Jahir Laredo and 21-year-old Mitzi Clemente were found dead in a car.
The chief said he is committed to making our streets safer.
"It's disheartening and on a daily basis myself and the staff try to figure out what we can do to stop. What we know it's going to take all of us," Penn said.
Chief Penn said there have been 46 homicides recorded in 2023 compared to 35 in 2022.