Eric Jermane Pegues, a 41-year-old African American man, was tragically shot and killed on May 25, 2016, outside the Paper Moon Gentlemen’s Strip Club in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, around 2:47 a.m., as Pegues stood in the parking lot near the entrance of the club. Authorities determined that Pegues was shot multiple times, and the shooting took place as the business was closing.
Investigators have not found any evidence to suggest that the shooting was preceded by an altercation or argument, but they do not believe it was a random act.
Following the incident, Sierras Deshan Cobb, a 42-year-old man from Winston-Salem, was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Greensboro and charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection to Pegues' death. Cobb was taken into custody and held at the Forsyth County Detention Center. The authorities have not released any information regarding Cobb's bond or court date.
In addition to the criminal charges, Pegues' family pursued legal action against the operators of the Paper Moon Gentlemen’s Strip Club. Pegues' wife filed a lawsuit against John D. Boyd and his company, Salisbury Ridge Ventures, Inc., which operated the club, alleging that the establishment failed to provide adequate security. In May 2018, a North Carolina judge awarded Pegues' family nearly $5 million in a default judgment after Boyd and Salisbury Ridge Ventures did not respond to the lawsuit within the specified time.
The trial for Sierras Deshan Cobb, who faces a first-degree murder charge in Pegues' death, is tentatively scheduled for the following year. The case has drawn attention to the importance of security measures at establishments like the Paper Moon Gentlemen’s Strip Club and the legal responsibilities of business owners to ensure the safety of their patrons.
