Jerome Gadson, a 36-year-old African American male from Kinston, North Carolina, tragically lost his life on March 14, 2021. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when Kinston Police responded to reports of shots fired in the area of 2210 Old Snow Hill Road. Upon arrival at the scene, officers were informed that two gunshot victims had been transported to UNC Lenoir Health Care.
Jerome Gadson was one of the victims and succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital. The second victim, also a 36-year-old male, was later transferred to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC, for further treatment.
The investigation into Jerome Gadson's death revealed that he had been fatally shot during the incident. The Kinston Police Department, along with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Violent Criminal Apprehension Team, worked diligently to gather information and leads in the case. In July 2023, significant progress was made when detectives obtained warrants for the arrest of two suspects: Ernest McCotter, a 31-year-old male from Hampton, Virginia, and Deshawn Maye, a 30-year-old male from Kinston, North Carolina. Both suspects were apprehended without incident and were subsequently jailed in Virginia pending extradition to North Carolina.
The arrests of McCotter and Maye marked a crucial development in the investigation into Jerome Gadson's murder. The Kinston Police Department emphasized the importance of community cooperation and support from the District Attorney's Office in making these arrests possible. The case remains under investigation, and authorities continue to seek assistance from the public to ensure that justice is served for Jerome Gadson and his family. Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Kinston Police Department's Tips Line or Lenoir County Crime Stoppers.
