Man charged in 2016 murder
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on September 22, 2017 5:50 AM
Police say a man they charged Thursday for the Oct. 28, 2016 murder of 21-year-old Shai Valentine knew the victim.
Ormond Qudre Cobb, 26, of 210 W. Pine St. -- already in the Wayne County Detention Center on an unrelated charge of attempted murder -- is charged with an open count of murder for the shooting death of Valentine.
Valentine was found by police lying behind apartments in the 100 block of Astor Court at about 1:08 a.m. when they responded to a shots fired call.
He was declared dead at the scene.
Maj. Anthony Carmon, head of the Goldsboro Police Department's Investigative Services Bureau, said the two men knew each other.
Carmon said the men were in an argument that turned physical, and ended in Valentine being shot to death.
Police do not know what the men were arguing about.
He added that he does not believe this murder case is gang-related, and said police are exploring to what extent the men knew each other.
Carmon declined to discuss the evidence -- or the nature of the evidence -- that led to Cobb being charged with Valentine's murder, citing the active status of the investigation.
Cobb has not been cooperative with police, nor has he provided a motive for the killing, Carmon said.
Police say Cobb is also responsible for the attempted murder of 25-year-old Joshua Deshawn Lofton on Aug. 5.
Lofton was shot in the chest while standing in his driveway at 500 Quail Drive.
He was taken to Wayne UNC Health Care, then transferred to Vidant Medical Center for treatment.
Cobb was charged with the attempted first-degree murder of Lofton less than a week after the shooting. He was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Police asked for the public's help in solving Valentine's murder in April of this year.
Valentine's murder was one of seven in 2016 where police had not charged anyone for the crime.
With Cobb being charged for the murder, this brings the number down to six.
Cobb will remain in jail without bond until his first appearance on Monday in Wayne County District Court.