Three people are in custody and two are being sought in a shooting death which occurred in the 300 block of Monroe Street in May.

One of the people in custody was out on bond and awaiting a court date in a murder in which the victim was located in the trunk of a vehicle earlier this year.

The three in custody and two being sought face charges in a shooting which claimed the life of Frederick Lee on May 13, Roanoke Rapids police Chief Bobby Martin said in a statement.

The charges against the five show robbery as a motive in the case as those charged not only face murder and conspiracy to commit murder counts, but conspiracy to commit armed robbery as well.

“They wanted something the man (Lee) had and unfortunately he lost his life,” Martin said this morning when asked about the conspiracy to commit armed robbery charges lodged against the men. He declined to elaborate.

In the gallery from left: Denzel Ashe, Edwards, Person, Stephon Ashe, and Shearin

• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
•  

Those currently in custody are Anthony Ty'Quan Shearin, 20; Shantron Avondre Person, 20; and Stepheon Jaqwan Ashe, 22. They are from the Roanoke Rapids area.

They have been jailed without the opportunity for bond.

Those remaining at large are Shelvy Travon Edwards, 25, and Denzel Ashe, 21, both of the Roanoke Rapids area. They tend to frequent the Roanoke Rapids and Weldon areas and are considered armed and dangerous.

Martin said most of the men charged are familiar with each other and hang out in some of the same locations.

Investigators spent “many, many hours to piece all the information together” in solving the case, according to the police chief, and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office was instrumental in assisting the police department. 

Specifically, Martin said Lieutenant Roger Jenkins and those under his charge “helped us out tremendously.”

Lee’s family has been notified of the arrests, which have taken place over the last few days.

One of the people charged — Person — was charged by the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office in a January shooting death in which the body of 23-year-old Trevon Quantavius Fields was found in the trunk. 

Person was out on bond for charges associated with that case and is scheduled to appear in Halifax County District Court Friday on charges related to that matter.

In the shooting death of Lee, police said at the time officers and EMS responding to the 300 block of Monroe Street discovered him inside the residence and that it appeared he had been shot in the upper body and did not survive.

As far as those who are not in custody, Martin said, “Someone out there knows who you are. It only makes it worse if you keep running.”

Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Edwards and Denzel Ashe are encouraged to contact the police department at 252-533-2810, Investigator Derrick Moore at 252-676-5638, or anonymously through Halifax County Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.