Second murder, gunfire in city
By John Joyce
Published in News on August 10, 2015 1:46 PM
Two men are dead, three people have been hospitalized and several homes throughout Goldsboro were struck by gunfire over the last 72 hours.
The Goldsboro Police Department is currently investigating the two homicides and subsequent assaults and shots fired cases, but so far investigators have few leads and have received little to no cooperation from the community.
Jerome Lavelle Barnes Jr., 17, of 104 Fire Tower Road in LaGrange, died at 7:20 p.m. Saturday at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, according to a police department press release.
Barnes suffered multiple gunshot wounds while sitting in a parked car outside the Donel Express Mart convenience store at 518 E. Elm St. Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Investigators believe Barnes' killing might be retaliatory in response to the shooting death of Tyron Kasheem Jones, 25, earlier that morning.
"We cannot say one way or another, but we believe the two might be related," Maj. Anthony Carmon said.
With no one from the community coming forward, investigators do not have a sure leg to stand on.
"We are working some leads," Carmon said regarding the Jones investigation. "We're in the process of conducting a neighborhood canvass," he added.
Carmon said investigators are knocking on doors in the neighborhood where Jones was allegedly shot and personally asking people who might have information to share what they know.
Jones died in his car early Saturday morning after he and a passenger, Robert Lee Cole, 21, were both shot several times. Jones continued to drive after being shot near the intersection of Edgerton Street and the 800 block of Argo Street. His car came to rest over the railroad tracks located south of Royall Avenue just east of where Herman Street becomes Wayne Memorial Drive.
Cole, lifeflighted to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville in critical condition Saturday, has since been upgraded to good condition.
Shootings continued across the city throughout the early morning hours Saturday, including a woman being struck in the leg and foot in the 700 block of East Pine Street, which resulted in her being transferred to Greenville as well.
City Manager Scott Stevens said he had been in contact with interim-Police Chief Mike West over the weekend regarding the two homicides, but he was not aware of any of the other shootings that took place over the weekend.
And, despite mention of gang involvement by members of the crowd gathered at the scene of the Jones murder early Saturday morning, neither the police department nor Stevens could confirm either murder was gang-related.
West, confirming there are rumors within the community that point to a gang affiliation, said he neither confirm or deny such a connection.
"I don't know that it is gang-related. I think it's going to be more of a beef between two people," he said.
West said investigators are hearing that the argument might be between a North End group and a South End group, or between the Bloods and the Crips, but none of that can be confirmed without speaking to those involved in the battle, none of whom are coming forward.
The peripheral shootings -- both prior to and following the Jones murder -- spread out over the weekend resulting in property damage to homes on Fussell Street, South Alabama Avenue and North Pineview Avenue. Shell casings were recovered from North Herman Street near West Chestnut Street and shots were heard fired near the intersection of North George and North Carolina streets.
Six spent 9mm shell casings recovered from North Herman Street might be identified, should the police recover a weapon at any point in their investigation, Carmon said.
"If we do find a firearm, we can have that sent to the lab and tested to see if there is a match," he said.
Another victim was reported following Barnes' murder when Andre Monterio Todd, 27, of Arrington Bridge Road, was shot in the 800 block of Crawford Street.
"We weren't called out on it," Carmon said.
According to the police report, Todd was driven to Wayne Memorial Hospital by private vehicle so patrol officers met him there. Todd reported hearing three to four shots as he left a residence on Crawford Street, but he did not know who shot him.
"I don't know where he was hit, in the leg or the back, but I don't believe his injuries were life-threatening," Carmon said.
Finally, at 2 a.m. today, Lakyla Renee Sanders, 34, reported shots fired at her residence off of North George Street resulting in $1,050 in damage to her walls and vinyl siding.
West asked that anyone with information regarding the murder investigations or the surrounding shootings please come forward. He said he understands citizens might have concerns.
"We are all concerned. There was a substantial amount of shootings this weekend," he said. "We need help from the community. If the community knows anything, they need to come forward and let us know.
Citizens with information are asked to contact Investigator Patelos at 919-580-4217, or Sgt. Jeremy Sutton at 919-580-4210.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255, or text tips to 919-222-4230. Information leading to a felony arrest is eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.