On April 27, 2024, at approximately 4:00 a.m., New Bern Police Department officers responded to reports of gunshots in the 1900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Upon arrival, they discovered two individuals with gunshot wounds in the parking lot of Something Special VIP, a local establishment. One victim, identified as 41-year-old Antorio Johnashe' Hargett Simmons of New Bern, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The second victim, 33-year-old Raquisha Brothers, also of New Bern, was transported to CarolinaEast Medical Center and subsequently airlifted to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, where she was treated and later released.
The New Bern Police Department secured the crime scene and initiated an investigation, interviewing potential witnesses and collecting evidence. At that time, authorities stated that there did not appear to be any ongoing threat to the community. However, details regarding the circumstances leading up to the shooting, as well as information about any suspects or motives, were not disclosed.
As of December 24, 2024, there have been no public reports indicating that arrests have been made or suspects identified in connection with the death of Antorio Johnashe' Hargett Simmons. The investigation remains open, and the New Bern Police Department continues to encourage anyone with information related to the case to come forward. Community members are urged to report any leads to the New Bern Police Department's TIPS line or the Craven County Crime Stopper line to assist in bringing those responsible to justice.
