Two men are now behind bars in connection with a deadly pre-dawn shooting in Rocky Mount, the culmination of a months-long homicide investigation, police said. Officers were called around 2:15 a.m. on Jan. 17 to the 100 block of Riverside Drive, where they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to ECU Health Medical Center and later died. One suspect was arrested on Feb. 22 and a second on April 9 as detectives continued piecing the case together.
Two suspects taken into custody
Rocky Mount Police identified the suspects as 30-year-old Taheem Shaamad Scott and 26-year-old Gregory Jason Harper. Harper was arrested first, on Feb. 22, and Scott was taken into custody on April 9. Both are charged with one count of first-degree murder and are being held without bond in local jails, according to ABC11.
How investigators tracked one suspect
Halifax County deputies said they encountered Harper during a traffic stop near NC Highway 48 and Medoc Mountain Road in Enfield after a license check showed he was wanted on a Rocky Mount warrant. Rocky Mount Police had secured the arrest warrants on Feb. 10, WRAL reported. Deputies cited Harper for a brake-light violation, served the outstanding warrant and then took him to the Halifax County Jail.
Victim identified, investigation ongoing
Local reporting identified the victim as Andre West, who was found with gunshot wounds at the Riverside Drive scene and later died at ECU Health Medical Center, according to WITN. Police have not released a possible motive. Detectives say the investigation remains active as they continue processing evidence and chasing down leads, per ABC11.
What happens next
Scott and Harper both face first-degree murder charges and remain in custody while prosecutors review the case. WRAL reported that Harper was expected to make a court appearance shortly after his Feb. 22 arrest as the legal process gets underway.
The case is still under active investigation. This story will be updated as new records, charges or court filings become available.
