In the quiet town of Plymouth, North Carolina, a senseless act of violence shattered the evening of February 16, 2026, leaving a community in mourning. Quadree Khalil Pettiford, a 31-year-old man, was fatally shot in an apartment on West Water Street. The incident unfolded around 7:32 p.m., prompting a swift response from the Plymouth Police Department. Upon their arrival at the scene, officers discovered Pettiford suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
Despite the immediate medical assistance provided by Washington County EMS and his subsequent transport to Washington Regional Medical Center, Pettiford succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
The investigation into the shooting quickly identified a suspect, 36-year-old Jeffrey Haughton II of Roper. Believed to be a domestic-related incident, authorities moved to secure arrest warrants for Haughton on charges of First Degree Murder, Breaking or Entering with Intent to Terrorize or Injure, and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. The Plymouth Police Department, with assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Washington County Sheriff's Office, launched a search for Haughton. Law enforcement officials assured the public that they did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the community but urged anyone with information regarding Haughton's whereabouts to come forward.
The death of Quadree Khalil Pettiford marked the second shooting incident in Plymouth in the early months of 2026, casting a somber shadow over the town. Known to his friends as "Dre" and "Champ #26," Pettiford was remembered as an outgoing, loving, and caring individual who was always in good spirits. A graduate of Plymouth High School, his sudden and violent death left a void in the lives of those who knew him. As the legal process against the accused began to unfold, the community was left to grapple with the tragic loss of a young life.
