Ja-Sel Orr, a 3-year-old African American girl from Lexington, North Carolina, tragically passed away on March 4, 2022, after sustaining severe injuries on March 2, 2022. Ja-Sel was discovered inside a smoking apartment in Lexington after a 911 caller reported seeing blood on the steps and a gun in the parking lot. She was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries two days later. The police found two men, Lionel Coker and Robert Lee Stowe, dead at the scene.
The cause of death for the three victims has not been released, but the police chief mentioned that they sustained more injuries than just gunshot wounds.
Brian Keith Moses, a 54-year-old man from Winston-Salem, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after the death of Ja-Sel Orr. Moses was initially charged with two counts of murder, arson, and possession of a firearm by a felon. After Ja-Sel's death, he faced an additional count of first-degree murder. Moses was known to the victims, and the police are still working to determine the motive behind the violence. During his court appearance, Moses sat silently as the judge informed him that he could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
Ja-Sel Orr was a joyful and energetic child who loved to play, sing, and dance. She was a student at Coggins Childcare Center in Lexington and attended For You Christ Ministries in Winston-Salem. Her family and community were devastated by her untimely death. Pastor Bobby Wilson, who had been a pastor to Ja-Sel and her family for the past two years, described her as a bright light in a dark world. The family has started a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs, and Pastor Wilson will lead the funeral for Ja-Sel and her grandfather.
The investigation into the deaths of Ja-Sel Orr, Lionel Coker, and Robert Lee Stowe is ongoing. The police have urged anyone with information related to the case to contact the Lexington Police Department or Lexington Area Crime Stoppers. The community continues to mourn the loss of Ja-Sel Orr, a young girl whose life was tragically cut short.
