Baby shot in city
By John Joyce
Published in News on October 23, 2013 1:46 PM
A 7-month-old infant remains at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville after a bullet passed through a moving car in the 3200 block of Thoroughfare Road just after 10:30 p.m. Monday, injuring the boy and another person in the vehicle.
The infant, Jaleik Amare Morgan, was struck in the left leg and finger by a single bullet which also hit an adult female passenger, Ashley Nicole Whitaker, 21, of 550 W. New Hope Road, said Capt. Richard Lewis, head of investigations for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.
"The bullet passed from the back of the vehicle through the front passenger seat," Lewis said.
Ms. Whitaker was treated and released from Wayne Memorial Hospital.
The baby's condition is not being released at his parents' request, Vidant officials said Tuesday.
"The child was seated, in a car seat, in the back of the vehicle, between the other passengers," Lewis said.
The child's father, Lamontae Torquez Morgan, age unavailable, was seated in the right rear passenger seat. His mother, Kenvena Imani Ward, 19, sat on the other side.
The driver of the vehicle, 22-year-old Jacarr Tyon Kelly of 3010 Central Heights Road, is the only person among the occupants with an extensive criminal record. He has prior convictions for breaking and entering, drug charges and possession of a stolen firearm, an official with the Wayne County Office of the Clerk of Courts said.
Kelly was driving Lamontae Morgan to work at the time of the shooting, according to the report, which also indicated the witnesses were less than forthcoming with investigators.
"All of the adult vehicle occupants were uncooperative about the incident and reluctant to provide information," the report said.
Lewis said the investigation was ongoing and no suspects have been developed. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255, or text tips to 919-222-4230.