Michael Jason Scott, a 54-year-old resident of Whiteville, North Carolina, tragically lost his life to gun violence on June 24, 2023. The incident occurred on Ward Street near MLK in Whiteville. After being shot, Scott was transported by Whiteville Rescue to Columbus Regional hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into Scott's murder led to the arrest of Kenneth Bernard Wooten, 24, on July 3, 2023.
Wooten was charged with first-degree murder and a probation violation. He is currently being held without bond. Wooten's most recent address was listed as 56 New Hope Road, though he had previous addresses in Chadbourn and near Whiteville.
As the investigation progressed, a second suspect was identified. Nicholas J.C. Mitchell, who turned 18 on February 22, 2024, was indicted for first-degree murder as an adult. Mitchell's address was listed as 65 10th St., Bolton. Initially, his bond was set at $1 million, but both Mitchell and Wooten are now being held without bond.
The case took an interesting turn when it was revealed that this was not Wooten's first encounter with the law regarding violent crimes. In 2017, Wooten had been charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of Jacob Baldwin, a West Columbus High School football player. Although a grand jury refused to indict Wooten for Baldwin's killing, he later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
Wooten's criminal history also includes a shooting spree in Chadbourn on November 25-26, 2017, during which he allegedly cut off his ankle monitor while on house arrest. This incident resulted in one man being wounded and several homes damaged. Prior to this, Wooten had been involved in another shooting incident where he allegedly shot Christopher Aaron Blackwell during a dispute over marijuana.
It's worth noting that Wooten had been released from prison in May 2023, less than a month before Scott's murder. He had served 17 months in prison and was placed on post-release supervision. The motive for Scott's killing has not been publicly disclosed by law enforcement.
The Whiteville Police Department and the State Bureau of Investigation handled the case, working diligently to bring the suspects to justice. The tragic death of Michael Jason Scott has left a mark on the Whiteville community, serving as a stark reminder of the ongoing issues with gun violence in the area.
