Police search for clues in death
By John Joyce
Published in News on February 1, 2013 1:46 PM
Goldsboro police say they have no new information to release regarding the investigation into a Jan. 23 shooting or about the police response to that murder.
Nor could they discuss whether a shooting just days later in the Day Circle neighborhood was connected.
Shabazz Arness Woods, 18, was killed between apartments in the Seymour Homes Housing Community Jan. 23.
The only news Sgt. Dwayne Dean of the Police Department's investigations division could share was that conversations are ongoing.
"Investigators are going back out to talk to residents and neighbors in the Day Circle and Seymour Homes communities," Dean said.
There has been a trickle of information coming in through the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line, Dean said, but not the deluge officers had been hoping for, and so far nothing concrete.
The lead investigator, Doug Bethea, is planning to hand out fliers in the two communities asking that anyone with information regarding the homicide call police or the tip line.
Woods' body was discovered last Thursday at about 7 a.m. between 414 and 415 Seymour Drive. Investigators did not know how long he had been there, and did their best to protect the crime scene from onlookers and the two residences that bookend it.
Questions quickly arose from the community asking why it took so long to find the victim. There were four 911 calls reporting shots fired in the area of 415 Seymour Drive and the surrounding area, all within four minutes of each other, beginning at 11:30 the night before.
An internal review of the 911 tapes, handwritten logs and the reports of the officers who responded was conducted by city officials and administrators within the police department. It was determined that the officers responded appropriately. Officials said the matter would have been addressed as part of this or any other homicide investigation.
With those questions answered, the police are looking for help from citizens within the community to answer the most pressing query of all, "Who killed Shabazz Woods?"
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255, or text tips to 919-222-4230.