Abdullah Ali Whitaker, a 32-year-old African American male from Goldsboro, NC, tragically lost his life on October 13, 2015. Whitaker, who was the owner and operator of Whitaker Mortuary Services, was found dead inside his vehicle shortly after midnight on that fateful day. The incident occurred in the 200 block of West Spruce Street, where Whitaker was discovered with a gunshot wound. It was determined that he had been driving when he was shot, causing his vehicle to crash into a parked car.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into Whitaker's death led to the arrest of three teenagers. Corey Devon Sutton Jr., 17, and Terrance Lavon Forbes, 18, were initially charged with murder on October 16, 2015. A third suspect, Sade Oksana Stevens, 17, was later added to the list of those charged with Whitaker's murder. All three suspects were held in the Wayne County jail without bond. The motive for the homicide appeared to be robbery, and it was noted that not all of the suspects were present at the time of the murder. However, they were all charged as accomplices, as per the legal principle that accomplices can be charged the same as the shooter.
The Goldsboro Police Department's investigation was aided by information provided via Crime Stoppers, which helped corroborate the detectives' findings. The suspects, Sutton and Forbes, were linked to a local subset of the national street gang known as the Bloods or United Blood Nation. Despite this affiliation, the gang ties were not considered related to the murder, which was primarily viewed as a robbery. The community's cooperation played a significant role in the investigation, and the police encouraged anyone with additional information to come forward.
Whitaker's death was a significant loss to the Goldsboro community, where he was known for his work in the funeral service industry. His passing left a void in the lives of those who knew him, and the investigation into his murder highlighted the importance of community involvement in solving such tragic cases. The legal proceedings against the suspects continued, with the potential for additional charges, including conspiracy, to be brought forward by the District Attorney's Office.
