Elizabeth City law enforcement reported on the apprehension of two suspected individuals relating to a shooting incident that transpired in the previous month. One of the detained individuals was a minor. The arrests occurred owing to a disturbance that had been reported on the late afternoon of April 29.
The police got alerted about possible gunfire around the vicinity of Herrington Road and Brown just shy of 5 p.m. After receiving a succession of distress calls about the suspected gunfire, the officers were dispatched immediately to assess the situation and maintain public safety.
Upon reaching the reported location, police personnel initiated a field analysis. The on-site evidence corroborated the reports, as scattered shell casings were discovered scattered around the area, indicating that a firearm had indeed been discharged.
As the investigation kicked into high gear, sleuthing efforts began to yield results. The authorities managed to single out two persons of interest from the evidence and the testimonies gathered. The implicated individuals were then marked as the prime suspects in the case.
Subsequent to their successful identification, one of the flagged suspects, who was a minor, was apprehended and placed under secured detention. A Juvenile Petition was served to the minor during the time of the arrest. The minor was then relocated to a secure facility intended for such purposes.
The minor suspect’s custody was transferred to the Pitt County Juvenile Detention Center located in the town of Greenville. The facility is designed to safely hold young individuals who have been implicated in a legal proceeding till the legal procedures progress.
The second suspect linked with the case was a man identified as 23-year-old Joseph Richard Small Jr. from Hertford. He was officially taken into custody eight days later, on May 8th. This arrest marked a significant step forward in the investigation of the shooting incident.
The arrest of Small was made possible through a collaborative endeavor among multiple agencies. The Elizabeth City Police Department teamed up with the North Carolina Probation and Parole along with the Perquimans County Sheriff’s Office to ensure a peaceful and successful detention.
Joseph Richard Small Jr. had multiple charges levelled against him following his arrest. He was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, secretly carrying a concealed firearm, intimidating public order while armed, firing a weapon within city limits, and breach of probationary conditions.
After his arrest, Small Jr. was transported to the Albemarle District Jail. The nature of his charges warranted a significant bail amount, with the court settling on a secured bond of $200,000. This made sure that the suspect remained safely under custody till further proceedings.
While under detention, Small Jr. waits for his first scheduled trial. This is set to occur on May 15, at 9:30 in the morning in the Pasquotank District Court. The hearing will mark the beginning of the judicial process for the individual arrested in the aftermath of the Elizabeth City shooting.