One man has been arrested and another is being sought in Sunday night's double murder off Delta Drive.
Captain Jay Burch of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Aaron Jamal Mills, 19, of Roanoke Rapids, has been charged with two counts of murder in the shooting deaths of Thomas Tyrone “Tomcat” Davis and his girlfriend, Jenilee A. Foster, also of Roanoke Rapids.
(Aaron Jamal Mills' photo can also be found on our Facebook page)
Warrants have also been obtained for the arrest of Jimmie Lee Mason II, 19, of Roanoke Rapids.
Burch said in the press release the matter continues to be under investigation and more charges are expected to filed in the case.
He said the priority now is to catch Mason, “Before someone else gets hurt. I beg for the assistance of the citizens of Halifax County to assist us in finding Mr. Mason.”
Mason is considered armed and dangerous and family members have reportedly had a reputation of protecting other wanted family members from law enforcement, sources said this evening Mason's father established a new life in Rock Hill, South Carolina, after being one of Halifax County's most wanted fugitives. He was finally apprehended several years ago by federal authorities.
Major Bruce Temple said Mason is known to frequent the P&J Trailer Park and Highway 158 West areas of the county. “Any person knowingly giving any assistance in escaping or attempting to escape detection or arrest is guilty of a felony in this state,” Burch said.
Temple said investigators are looking at several possible motives in the case, including beliefs that this could be drug related since Davis, 38, is a reputed drug dealer. That could include the possibility that he was robbed, a possible botched drug deal or something that stemmed from a past history between the parties.
Temple said investigators are continuing to decline to elaborate on matters such as the weapon used or how the victims were shot, although he did confirm several shots were fired.
Foster, 26, was pronounced dead at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville earlier this week after being in critical condition following the shooting, which occurred around 11 p.m. Sunday.
Witnesses said they saw a white Crown Victoria drive up to the home and a man exited the vehicle and entered the house. On Delta Drive off Highway 158 near the old airport.
Following the shooting the suspect ran from the house and got back in the vehicle, which sped away at a high rate of speed towards Highway 158.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crimestoppers at at 252-583-4444 or the sheriff's office at 252-583-1991 or 252-583-8051.
