LUMBERTON — Robeson County Sheriff Kenneth Sealey says investigators have identified a “person of interest” in the stabbing death of a Lumberton man on Monday night.

Alphonso Terele McMillian, 38, was found dead at his home on the 300 block of Troy Drive at about 9 p.m. on Monday. Sealey said officers responded to McMillian’s house after receiving a 911 call that a person there had been stabbed.

“We have a person of interest that we are looking at that has been questioned,” Sealey said Tuesday night.

According to Sealey, McMillian’s girlfriend was also at the home when an unidentified man arrived and “an altercation broke out.” Sealey declined to identify the man because no charges have been filed, but said he and McMillian were “familiar” with each other.

Sealey said the man was not at the home when deputies arrived. He was located early Tuesday morning and brought in for questioning.

Sealey said he could not comment on the severity of McMillian’s injuries until the results of an autopsy are made available.

McMillian worked as a dishwasher at downtown restaurant Candy Sue’s for the past two years.

“He was just a great guy,” said manager Kevin Walker. “He always came in and did his job. He was very likeable, loved sports. I mean that’s all we talked about really was sports.” Walker said he learned of McMillian’s death after his girlfriend and other friends called.

Walker said McMillian “never complained” despite family tragedies, including a traffic accident that killed his father and his mother suffering from cancer.

“He had a bunch of bad cards dealt to him but he always had a smile on his face,” Walker said.

‘Person of interest’ questioned.

By Sarah Willets

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Sarah Willets can be reached at 910-816-1974 or on Twitter @Sarah_Willets.