On September 2, 2023, at approximately 12:52 a.m., Rocky Mount police responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the 900 block of Long Avenue. Upon arrival, they discovered 39-year-old Jermaine Pone lying on the sidewalk in the 900 block of Tessie Street, suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite prompt medical attention, Pone was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators swiftly identified a suspect vehicle, a 2001 Toyota Camry, which was entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as a felony-wanted vehicle. On September 5, 2023, High Point police located the Camry, which led to a high-speed chase ending in a crash. The occupants, David Edwards, 28, and his girlfriend, Melody Shipman, 31, were apprehended. A firearm was recovered from their possession.
Both Edwards and Shipman, recent transplants from Chicago to the Rocky Mount area, were charged with first-degree murder in connection with Pone's death. Evidence suggested that a physical altercation between the couple and Pone escalated, resulting in the fatal shooting. Additionally, High Point police charged them with possession of a firearm by convicted felons. Edwards faced further charges, including felony speeding to elude arrest and other traffic violations related to the pursuit. Both individuals were held without bond at a Guilford County detention center.
