Almost a month has passed since the Thanksgiving tragedy that shook the Zebulon community, with the arrest of a man in connection to the fatal shooting of 55-year-old Robert Cummings. According to The News & Observer, Jason Linwood Hedges, 43, was taken into custody at his residence on East Vance Street, a mere mile from the crime scene on West Barbee Street where Cummings was found with gunshot wounds in his brother’s front yard in the early hours of November 28.
Hedges now faces a charge of murder, while Armond Ledbetter, 30, has been charged with accessory after the fact, as per details released by Zebulon Police Department; Cummings was found unresponsive around 1:30 a.m., and later pronounced dead at a local hospital, the time of Cummings’ discovery in front of his brother's house on West Barbee Street near Primrose Place was not made clear, neither was the exact timeline of the subsequent altercation believed to have precipitated the shooting. ABC11, as quoted by The News & Observer, reports the family's belief that an altercation between Cummings, his brother, and a group of individuals could have sparked the deadly outcome. The Zebulon Police, however, have labeled the incident as isolated, assuring there is no continuing threat to the community.
To support Cummings’ funeral expenses, a GoFundMe campaign was established seeking $2,000, but it had raised only a fraction of that amount by Friday afternoon. The gravity of the situation is underscored by the fact that the victim was gunned down just steps from his home, leaving a family grappling for answers and burdened by the sudden financial strain of laying their loved one to rest. Hedges is currently being held in the Wake County Detention Center without bail, according to The News & Observer.
While details continue to emerge, authorities are pressing forward with the investigation into Cummings’ death, and Robert Cummings’ son, Damain, recounted to ABC11 investigators' belief that the suspects had a previous encounter with his father and uncle before the fatal incident, this discloses a narrative where the confrontation could have retreated only to return with lethal force, officers escorted Hedges to the Wake County Detention Center following his arrest on the afternoon last Thursday. Further information and updates on the case are to be expected as the legal proceedings advance, as reported by WRAL.
