All in Crime

Kinston Police Department discusses community and crime

A recent rise in violent crimes has raised the proverbial eyebrows of the community, but Kinston Police Chief Tim Dilday and his team are engaged in the solutions. Despite the decrease in gun violence in recent years, the frequent updates about shootings that have occurred in recent weeks can give the impression that the city is violent. To keep the community informed, KPD is active on social media with frequent updates and releasing of necessary community information, including updates on crimes like larceny and gun violence. Chief Dilday, Major Keith Goyette, and Major Jenee Spencer discussed the perception of violence, and the impact the community can have on its own safety.

Greene and Jones County Absconders

An Absconder is defined in Division of Community Corrections (DCC) policy as “an offender who is actively avoiding supervision by making his/her whereabouts unknown to the supervising officer.” Statewide, there are about 12,000 probationers who have absconded probation – about 10% of all supervised probationers.

Lenoir County Absconders

An Absconder is defined in the Division of Community Corrections (DCC) policy as “an offender who is actively avoiding supervision by making his/her whereabouts unknown to the supervising officer.” Statewide, there are about 12,000 probationers who have absconded probation – about 10% of all supervised probationers.

Kinston Police investigate Nov. 7th shooting on Dixon Street

On Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 7:56 p.m., officers were dispatched to reports of shots fired possibly in the area of St. John's Village. While officers were en route, 911 Communications advised of a gunshot victim that had arrived at UNC Lenoir. Officers responded to the hospital and made contact with the victim, Khalil Rayquan Branch, a 24 year old male, who advised he was shot on Dixon Street in Kinston.

UPDATE: Warrants obtained in shooting, murder case

Warrants have been obtained for Trevor Demitri Akeily Peters, B/M, date of birth 04/02/1994, 26 year old male who has lived in the Kinston area for about the past 7 years with various associates. Officers obtained warrants on Peters for First Degree Murder in reference to the shooting last night of Demario Washington on the 1000 blk. of E. Bright Street.

Kinston police investigate shooting, murder

On Wednesday, November 04, 2020, at 8:09 pm, officers with the Kinston Police Department responded to the 800 block of E. Shine Street in reference to a shots fired call. Upon arrival, officers located a crime scene that consisted of (12) shell casings but no one was injured during the shooting. While officers were on-scene investigating the incident, they heard gunshots from two blocks away from the original scene.

KPD: Arrests made in Dixon Street shooting

On Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at approximately 4:00 pm, officers with the Kinston Police Department responded to the 800 block of Dixon Street in reference to a shooting complaint. Upon arrival, officers located a 24-year-old male subject suffering from a gunshot wound to his lower leg. The gunshot wound doesn’t appear to be life-threatening. The subject was transported to Vidant Medical Center where he recovered from his wound.

On October 29, 2020, Officers with the Kinston Police Department obtained arrest warrants and arrested Shelton Jerrod Mason (29 years old) and Shaquan Tysheim Harper (23 years old), both of Kinston, for their role in the shooting.

KPD Chief releases message after four shootings in two weeks

Chief Tim Dilday of the Kinston Police Department has a message for the community after a rash of violence over the past weeks. “The Kinston Police Department has responded to four shooting scenes in the month of October, all of which occurred within the past two weeks. An arrest has been made in one of these cases and suspects have been developed in each of the others. Additional arrests are forthcoming. While today’s shooting investigation is in the preliminary stages, I can tell you that at least one suspect has been identified.” (read the entire message)

Kinston police investigate person shot in the parking lot of 4101 W. Vernon Avenue

On October 27, 2020 at 1246 hours officers of the Kinston Police Department responded to the parking lot of 4101 W. Vernon Avenue in response to a 911 call of a person who had been shot. Officers arrived on the scene to find Khalil Dail, 21 year old male of Kinston, NC who suffered from one gunshot wound to his upper torso. He was transported to Vidant Medical Center via ambulance.

KPD investigates person shot in Dollar Tree parking lot

Reports on social media indicate a shooting took place on Tuesday afternoon outside the Dollar Tree in the Westpoint Shopping Center on West Vernon Avenue in Kinston.

One commenter on Facebook reported hearing a gunshot, and witnessing a large police response a few minutes later.

Scanner traffic indicated that at least one person had been shot during the incident.

This is a developing story.

Neuse News has reached out to the Kinston Police Department for a statement, and will update this story as we get more information.

Kinston Police investigate shooting on Dixon Street

On Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at approximately 4:00 pm, officers with the Kinston Police Department responded to the 800 block of Dixon Street in reference to a shooting complaint. Upon arrival, officers located a 24-year-old male subject suffering from a gunshot wound to his lower leg. The gunshot wound doesn’t appear to be life-threatening. The subject was transported to Vidant Medical Center.

Kinston Police investigate drive-by shooting

On October 17, 2020, at approximately 10:34 pm, Officers with the Kinston Police Department were dispatched to the report of a subject that had been shot near 18 Carver Courts. Upon arrival officers met with Andre DeBaptiste of Kinston, who was suffering from a single gunshot wound to the lower abdomen that occurred during an apparent drive-by shooting. Mr. DeBaptiste was transported by Lenoir County EMS to Vidant Medical center where he remains in stable condition.

La Grange woman arrested on felony insurance fraud

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced the arrest of Felicia Bryant, 46, of La Grange. Bryant was charged with insurance fraud, a felony. According to the arrest warrant, Bryant filed a new vehicle damage claim with Geico when the damage had previously been reported to Allstate.

Kinston Police: Arrest made in weekend shooting

On Monday, September 21, 2020, officers arrested Al Lee Myers of La Grange, NC for his involvement in a September 20 shooting incident. Mr. Myers was taken into custody without incident and charged with Attempted Murder and Assault with a Deadly Weapon with intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury. Mr. Myers was held in the Lenoir County Jail under a $300,000 secure bond. This incident is still an active investigation.

Kinston Police investigating Friday night homicide

On Friday, September 18, 2020 at 11:23 p.m., Kinston Police Officers responded to reports of a subject shot on the 2200 Block of Briarfield Rd. Officers arrived on scene and found two subjects lying in the road suffering from gunshot wounds. Both subjects were transported to UNC Lenoir and later transferred to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville NC. One subject passed while receiving treatment for his injuries and was pronounced dead at Vidant Medical Center. The second subject is currently in Stable Condition.