A Roanoke Rapids man was charged today with first-degree murder in the July 3 shooting death of a 26-year-old Weldon resident.
Roanoke Rapids police Chief Shane Guyant said Detective S. Bryant charged 20-year-old Oquevion Raheim Barnes of Henry Street in the death of Jeremy Lemuel Motley. The fatal shooting occurred at the intersection of Second and Jackson streets near Food Lion around 9 p.m.
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Guyant said detectives have been working to obtain digital information from various social platform outlets and identified Barnes as a suspect. Detectives eventually obtained enough evidence to officially charge him.
Guyant said detectives are still investigating a motive in the case but they feel Barnes and Motley knew each other.
“There are still several ongoing components to this investigation and detectives are closing in on other possible suspects,” Guyant said. “It is highly probable that other charges will be forthcoming. Detective Bryant worked tirelessly and obtained a trove of information from the digital evidence he collected. We hope that soon we can provide the family of Jeremy Motley with more closure as they continue to cope with his death.”
Police said at the time officers initially responded to a vehicle crash at the intersection of Second and Jackson streets when they located Motley lying in the roadway at Second and Madison streets.
Motley sustained a traumatic gunshot wound and required immediate medical attention. He was pronounced deceased the morning of July 4.
Officers also observed the collision scene and learned two people were leaving Food Lion when their vehicle was struck head-on by another vehicle which was speeding from the area of Second and Madison streets. There were several bullet holes in the vehicle which struck the vehicle of the people leaving Food Lion.
A no opportunity for bond status was given to Barnes for the first-degree murder count. He had been in the Halifax County Detention on other charges. He has a Friday first appearance date in Halifax County District Court for the murder charge.
Barnes was incarcerated in the detention center for a June discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling count. He also has pending charges for a December resisting arrest count and a July 2022 possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana count.
Guyant said Barnes has previously been convicted of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling in February 2021, and simple assault in October 2021.
