Chief talks about crime
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on August 18, 2015 1:46 PM
The recent rash of shootings in the city has not been random, Interim Police Chief Mike West told the Goldsboro City Council on Monday night, and the public has less to worry about than it might first appear.
"These shootings involve individuals that are known to police and that know each other," West said.
In the past two weeks there have been more than 20 calls to police regarding shots being fired within the city limits. Two have been fatalities.
Mayor Al King said people had been approaching him all throughout the past week asking him about the shootings.
"Everywhere I go people are talking about shots fired in Goldsboro," King said. "I tell them what you just said, that these are not random shootings. We are all concerned, and we would really be concerned if we had people just roaming around shooting innocent people. But I know this, and I'm glad that you reported this fact -- they know each other. The person being shot is a target."
The string of shootings began on Aug. 8, when police received reports of shots fired near Wayne Memorial Drive early in the morning. When police responded to the scene, they found one vehicle with two occupants -- the driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and a passenger, who was treated at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville and later released.
That same morning, a report of shots fired was called in to police at 2:45 a.m. One victim was found with injuries and was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Both incidents are still being investigated.
Later in the day on Aug. 8, at 3:41 p.m., a report of a shooting at Donel's Express Mart was called in at 518 E. Elm St.
"The victim was critically wounded and rushed to the hospital in a private vehicle prior to the officer's arrival," West said. That victim later died at Vidant Medical Center.
As a result, an open warrant for one open count of murder has been issued for Rashad Terel Daniels. Daniels is from the Goldsboro area.
The following day, Sunday, Aug. 9, at 8:24 a.m., a call was received reporting shots fired in the area of the 800 block of Crawford Street. A victim with injuries was located by police after they arrived at the scene. The investigation into the case continues.
On Monday, Aug. 10, at 1:36 p.m., a shots fired call was received reporting a shooting near the Wal-Mart on Spence Avenue. The victim was in a vehicle at the stoplight at the corner of Royall Avenue and North Spence Avenue. No injuries were sustained by the victim, but the vehicle was struck multiple times.
A warrant for the arrest of Cornelius Donel Weeks on one count of attempted first-degree murder, discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle and possession of a handgun by a felon was issued by police in regards to that incident.
Weeks was arrested by the Raleigh Police Department on Aug. 12, and returned to the Wayne County Detention Center and placed under an $800,000 secured bond.
On Thursday, Aug. 13, at 9:29 p.m., a call reporting a shooting on Prince Avenue was received by police. The suspect in the shooting -- Corderius Leamon Holmes -- was arrested after the victim provided a description to police.
On Friday, Aug. 14, at 2:57 a.m., police received a shots fired call reporting shots near the Best Value Inn at 701 U.S. 70 East. Two victims were injured and taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital in private vehicles prior to the arrival of officers.
The investigations into the cases remain open, but West said he feels confident that investigators are on the verge of securing warrants against suspects in the case.
The common thread in these shootings, West said, is that the victims and suspects likely knew each other, meaning the victims were targeted by the perpetrators.
"I want to reassure council and the public that not all these shootings are random acts," West said. "In most cases, the suspect and the victim knew each other. All the incidents that I just mentioned are still under investigation, and even though there's been a few arrests and warrants issued, investigators are still following up on leads, and the public is providing tips."