Shooting suspects surrender

Lance Martin Herald Senior Staff Writer

SEABOARD - Two people allegedly involved in three shootings Wednesday in Seaboard turned themselves in Thursday. The third person turned himself in this morning and was being booked at press deadline.

Both men surrendered at the urging of family members, Seaboard Police Chief Fernard Henry said this morning.

Jamal Andre Thomas was jailed on $100,000 bond and was charged with assault by pointing a gun, discharging a weapon into occupied property and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

Doral Brown was jailed on a $25,000 cash bond and was charged with communicating threats, assault by pointing a gun and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

One more person, Jeffery Stevens, turned himself in this morning and faces three counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and three counts of discharging a weapon into occupied property.

Henry said investigation into the three separate shootings is ongoing and more arrests are possible. The incidents occurred in less than an hour and are probably related. Henry said while the victims and witnesses offered no motive, he believes it may be a turf war.

While the investigation continues, Henry is also turning to the community for help. “As far as the community, they are the best police,” he said, explaining that he encourages members to report any suspicious activity.

He said he is also turning to community leaders, churches and civic groups to help address the problem, including the Exodus for Youth organization. “It's very important before school gets out that parents should know where their kids are.”

The shootings began Wednesday around 7:50 p.m., when a call came into Northampton County Communications about people fighting in the vicinity of the pool hall and Cupboard convenience store off N.C. Highway 186.

Within minutes, Henry said Thomas of Margarettsville allegedly began shooting a shotgun into a blue and white 1993 Cadillac driven east on Highway 186 by Romeo Moody.

About an hour and a half after the first call, Henry said another call came in about shots being fired in the Second and Faison street areas of Seaboard, known as The Gant.

An hour later, the Cadillac occupied by Romeo Moody, Cameron Moody and Reginald Ryland was parked in front of the pool hall when it is alleged Stevens, 21, of Seaboard, fired a shot which struck Cameron Moody in the foot. Moody was treated by EMS at his residence.