U.S. Department of Justice

MEN SENTENCED FOR ROBBERY AND FIREARM OFFENSES IN HENDERSON AND VANCE COUNTY

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— courtesy U. S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney Eastern District of NC

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle, sentenced TYLER JONES, 21, of Henderson, NC to 84 months of  imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release. Also sentenced today was co-defendant DIJON DEVAR WILLIAMS, 26, of Henderson, NC to 200 months of imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release. Additionally, JONES agreed to pay $1,439.47 in restitution and WILLIAMS agreed to pay $12,096.95 in restitution.

JONES and WILLIAMS were named in a fifteen-count Indictment filed on August 3, 2016. JONES subsequently pled guilty to one-count of Hobbs Act Robbery and Aiding and Abetting and one-count of Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. WILLIAMS pled guilty to two-counts of Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.

From around October 2015, to December 14, 2015, WILLIAMS executed a series of robberies at various business establishments in the Eastern District of North Carolina, in Henderson, Kittrell, and Middleburg, North Carolina. JONES also was charged with one of the robberies.

On December 5, 2015, WILLIAMS and JONES robbed Citi Trends in Henderson. WILLIAMS entered the store and pointed a revolver at the security officer’s chest. JONES remained at the entrance to the store and served as a lookout. They fled the scene with approximately $1,439.00. On December 5, 2015, Jones was apprehended in the vicinity of the robbery and was positively identified by a witness.

On December 14, 2015, WILLIAMS robbed Cruizers Store Number 240 (Cruizers) in Henderson. Shortly after entering the store, WILLIAMS walked behind the cash register counter, pointed a handgun at the cashier, and demanded money. While WILLIAMS grabbed $80 from the cash register, the cashier turned and fell to the floor. WILLIAMS fled the scene in a car shortly after the robbery.

This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.

The Henderson Police Department, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the criminal investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorneys S. Katherine Burnette and Dennis M. Duffy handled the prosecution of this case for the government.

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Home and Garden Show 11/21/17

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Kedecia Stewart of Pinkston Street, North Central Region Teacher of the Year

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— courtesy Vance County Schools

Kedecia Stewart, a teacher at Pinkston Street Elementary School, has been named the North Central Region Teacher of the Year.

The announcement was officially made today at a school-wide assembly at Pinkston Street, where Stewart teaches math to fourth and fifth graders.

Stewart also is the 2017-2018 Vance County Teacher of the Year.

Kedecia Stewart, left, reacts as Superintendent Anthony Jackson talks about her recognition as the 2018 North Central Region Teacher of the Year. (VCS Photo)

Lisa Godwin, the 2017 N.C. Teacher of the Year, attended the assembly to make the announcement.

All of the students and staff at Pinkston Street Elementary School were in attendance and they all stood and cheered when it was announced Stewart had earned the regional honor.

Superintendent Anthony Jackson presented Stewart with a plaque from the school system in recognition of the Regional Teacher of the Year award and a bouquet of pink roses.

Stewart won the regional honor in a field of Teachers of the Year from 14 public school systems in this region of the state including Wake, Durham, Johnston, Franklin, Granville and Warren counties.

She will now go on to represent the North Central Region in competition for the 2018 N.C. Teacher of the Year.

News 11/21/17

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Rabid Skunk (Beaver Creek Lane)

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Vance County Animal Control contacted WIZS News with the following:

ANIMAL SERVICES RESPONDED TO A CALL ON 11/15/2017 IN REFERENCE TO A POSSIBLY RABID SKUNK ON BEAVER CREEK LN OFF OF SOUTHERLAND MILL RD.  THE SKUNK WAS SENT OFF FOR TESTING AND HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR RABIES.

AT THIS TIME, ANIMAL SERVICES IS ASKING TO PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ALL CATS AND DOGS ARE UP TO DATE ON THEIR RABIES VACCINE.

The Vance County Animal Shelter offers the rabies vaccine for $5, Monday 12:30-4:30 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Officer Involved Shooting Follow Up

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Press Release

Henderson, NC- On Saturday, November 18, 2017, the District Attorney’s Office was contacted by Chief Marcus Barrow of the Henderson Police Department, regarding an officer involved shooting. Chief Barrow asked for our assistance in requesting the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) conduct an investigation into the incident. The SBI promptly arrived and began processing the scene for forensic evidence and conducting interviews. The SBI preliminarily reported to our office that they concluded evidence collection as of late Saturday evening, but were continuing with interviews of witnesses today.

The District Attorney’s Office will await the results of the SBI investigation before making any determination about whether the use of force was appropriate.

Three individuals have been charged with respect to the incident that preceded the officer involved shooting. Randolph Jones, Jr. and O’Sha Dyshon Jones are in the currently in the custody of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office. A warrant for the arrest of Devontay D. Richardson remains unserved. This is a pending investigation and these defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

News 11/20/17

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Henderson Police Department

Shooting; Police Take Enforcement Action; Suspect Sought

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Press Release from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

Today, Saturday November 18, 2017, Officers of the Henderson Police Department were handling a Domestic Juvenile call within the 400 Block of Orange Street. While officers were in the yard speaking with the family gunshots were heard in extremely close proximity.

In visible sight of their location, gunfire was occurring at the intersection of Walnut Street and Pettigrew Street where a 33 year old female was shot. She was transported by personal vehicle to a local medical facility where she is receiving treatment for her injury.

A gold colored Lexus that was actively involved in the shooting sped towards the officers at a high speed with the passenger still brandishing his firearm.

One of our officers fired his weapon at the gold in color Lexus while the second officer returned to his vehicle and began pursuing. Less than a block away, a passenger exited the vehicle and ran from the car.

The car continued on and within the next block the vehicle stopped, and both the driver and rear passenger were taken into custody without further incident.

The driver received a single gunshot wound to his lower leg and was treated and released back into our custody in a short amount of time by a local medical facility.

Due to the officer discharging his firearm during the incident, the District Attorney’s Office was immediately called and the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) was requested. The SBI is currently handling the investigation of the incident and the officer has been placed on administrative leave per our departmental policy.

We are extremely grateful for the valuable information and cooperation that has been given by our citizens.

Both of the individuals taken into custody have been charged in the shooting of the 33 year old female and information on the whereabouts of the third individual that fled from the vehicle is being sought.

If anyone should have any additional information about this incident, he or she is encouraged to contact the SBI or Henderson Police Department. Callers may also call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or by using the P3 app on a smartphone or tablet device. Callers may remain anonymous.

While this remains open and an ongoing investigation the release of any further details about this incident will be at the discretion of the District Attorney’s.

News 11/17/17

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Vance County Early College High School Applications

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— courtesy Vance County Schools

Our Vance County Early College High School is now accepting applications from current eighth-grade students to attend the school for the 2018-2019 school year.

Students who attend Early College have the opportunity to complete their high school education and two years of college coursework at no cost to them.

The Early College is designed for diverse learners who want the opportunity to be enrolled in a relevant, rigorous and innovative course of secondary curriculum and a tuition free college course of study. All students are expected to receive their high school diploma and an Associate of Arts degree or Associate of Science degree from Vance-Granville Community College.

Applications for the 2018-2019 school year may be obtained at the school, located on the third floor of Building 2 on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College near Henderson, or on the school’s website.

Applications from rising ninth graders will be accepted until February 16, 2018.

Principal Debbie Hite and her staff also will be leading parent and student informational meetings over the next few weeks. More information on these meetings will be made available soon.

For further information, interested persons may contact the Early College High School by phone at 252-738-3580.