As Roanoke Rapids police try to reel in the seventh person wanted in the murder of Wilton Cotton and the shooting of Richard Squire Jr. they say drugs were the target and robbery the motive.
Roanoke Rapids investigators thought they had the seventh person in custody until that man was reportedly able to prove he was the victim of identity theft.
“What we're trying to do is get verification of a person of interest that we have developed through certain avenues. The picture that we distributed, that is the person who we are looking for.”
The photo above, Martin, said was pulled from a video on social media. “I know the person frequents Roanoke Rapids and Weldon. I know someone in Roanoke Rapids and Weldon has his exact ID.”
The best avenue people who have knowledge of the person, Martin said, is through the anonymous Crimestoppers line. “Crimestoppers is offering a reward for the capture of this person wanted in this terrible crime.”
The Crimestoppers number is 252-583-4444.
Police Chief Andy Jackson said, in regard to the motive behind the death of Cotton and the shooting of the 26-year-old Squire, of Pleasant Hill, “I know people want to know the motive. The motive is drugs and money.”
Cotton and Squire were friends, Martin said, and Cotton was riding with Squire September 24 when they were both shot on Gordon Drive near the Oak Street intersection. “Mr. Cotton had somewhere to be, he was probably headed to work and this happened. He was employed.”
Cotton had no criminal record, police said. They would not confirm or deny Squire was allegedly tied to the drug game.
As of yet, none of the people arrested, five teenagers and one 20-year-old, have admitted to gang ties, Martin said. “Have we been asking? Yes.”
Of the teenagers charged, Jackson said at least one of them was a straight A student. “Unfortunately, TV and music glamorizes the gangster life — fast money and drugs. They made good grades, but got mixed up, unfortunately, with the wrong people is our understanding.”
That six people have been charged and at least one more is sought is an indication police are making charges under the state's felony murder rule is something that Jackson and Martin would not confirm.
The state's felony murder rule states that a murder committed in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of any arson, rape, sex offense, robbery, kidnapping, burglary or other felony committed or attempted with the use of a deadly weapon shall be deemed murder in the first degree.