Antoine Armstead, a 33-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on February 6, 2022, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, around 4 a.m., when police responded to a report of a shooting on Madison Street. Upon arrival, officers found Antoine Armstead lying in the street with a gunshot wound.
He was immediately transported to UNC Nash Healthcare in critical condition and later transferred to Vidant Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries later that afternoon.
The investigation revealed that Antoine Armstead had been shot inside a local poolroom located just down the street from where he was found. The Rocky Mount Police Department quickly identified two suspects in connection with the shooting. Rashon Knight, a 36-year-old male, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He is currently being held at the Edgecombe County Detention Center without bond. The second suspect, Masia Griffin, a 23-year-old male, had a warrant out for his arrest but initially evaded capture. However, Griffin was later apprehended by the Rocky Mount Police Department, the Greenville Police Department SWAT team, the U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force, and the SBI Task Force after a search warrant was served at a house in Greenville.
The case has garnered significant attention due to the violent nature of the crime and the swift action taken by law enforcement to apprehend the suspects. The Rocky Mount Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and has urged anyone with information related to the incident to come forward. The community has been deeply affected by the loss of Antoine Armstead, and his family and friends have expressed their grief and sorrow over his untimely death. The legal proceedings against Rashon Knight and Masia Griffin are ongoing, and both suspects face serious charges that could result in lengthy prison sentences if convicted.
