ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. (WNCN) – A man has been arrested in connection to a shooting on Tuesday, Roanoke Rapids Police Department said.
Just after midnight Tuesday, Jamari Dejon Haskins, 18, of Chesapeake, Virginia was shot at the 200 block of Madison Street in Roanoke Rapids, police said.
The original call was a reported drive by shooting, but investigators found that wasn’t the case.
According to police, since Tuesday, investigators obtained search warrants and conducted thorough examinations in the area of the shooting. Police said people at the scene didn’t cooperate with law enforcement.
Evidence was located through search warrants determining someone shot Haskins inside the residence. People have also been interviewed since then, even though police said they were uncooperative.
Roanoke Rapids Investigations Division team found Demarcus Tyvon Gilbert, 26 of Roanoke Rapids to be responsible for the death of Haskins, police said.
On Thursday, Gilbert said he killed Haskins when being interviewed. Gilbert has been charged with first degree murder, police said. He has been placed in the Halifax County Detention Center with no bond. He has a court date of March 1.
Chief Guyant stated, “We have assembled an incredible investigative team here over the past few months. Investigators with over 100 years of combined experience solved this case. Not calls from the public. Not informant information. This case was solved due to investigative skill and hard work. We are not done with this investigation.”
“There are still loose ends that need and will, be tied up in the coming days. It amazes me regarding the lack of cooperation. The Police Department cannot be blamed for this. The blame is due to a serious lack of morality and decency. Young Mr. Haskins’ life was cut short, and people acted like they could care less. This is beyond my understanding. But rest assured, we are going to do everything in our power to find justice for the Haskins family. I could not be prouder of our team of investigators. They gave this case all they had this week.”
