Johnnie Lee Rouse, a 57-year-old male from Kinston, North Carolina, tragically lost his life on May 5, 2022. He was one of two victims in a shooting incident that occurred at a residence on the corner of Highland Avenue and Sutton Drive. The other victim was Ruby Cox, aged 78. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by Lenoir County EMS.
Lawrence Cox Jr., aged 34 and also from Kinston, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Rouse and Cox.
Cox was taken into custody without incident in Goldsboro, North Carolina, later that day. The police investigation revealed that Cox had a personal connection to the victims, which led to his arrest. He was held in the Lenoir County Jail without bond.
The Kinston Police Department, along with the Goldsboro Police Department and the State Bureau of Investigation, conducted a joint effort to apprehend Cox. Authorities stated that the shooting was an isolated incident and assured the public that there was no further threat to the community.
The case remains under active investigation, and the police department has urged anyone with additional information to come forward. The community has been deeply affected by this tragic event, and efforts are ongoing to ensure justice for the victims and their families.
