3 Arrested in Chocowinity Shooting | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    An argument between two 18 yr old Chocowinity men that began on social media, turned violent Wednesday night when one of the 18 yr. olds and his 20 yr. old cousin, also from Chocowinity, were shot in the front yard of a residence on the Gray Road.

    Beaufort County Sheriff's Deputies were called to the shooting at 1082 Gray Road at about 6:40 pm on October 10, 2018. When they arrived they learned 2 men had been shot and already transported to Vidant Beaufort ER by a private vehicle. Sheriff's Investigators also responded to the shooting scene and the emergency room and began piecing the facts together.

    An argument between Shemar Leslie Pope, age 18 and Desmond Trieke Gorham, also age 18, escalated when Pope and 3 others showed up to fight with Gorham. After a brief verbal altercation, one of the 4 opened fire, discharging 6 - 7 rounds, hitting Gorham and 20 yr. old Kyale Devon Gaskins Jr. All four fled the scene immediately after.

    After processing the crime scene and taking statements from both victims and eyewitnesses at the scene, Investigators began their search for the suspects. However Pope turned himself into the Sheriff's Office on the same night. The next day James Lee Mc Kinney Jr. age 19 of Edward, NC and Jaquan Maliak Taylor age 16, of Washington were identified as suspects and arrested by Deputies.


    Pope, Mc Kinney Jr. and Taylor were all charged with 2 counts each of Assault With a Deadly Weapon With Intent to Kill, Inflicting Serious Injury. Pope's bond was set at $40,000.00, Mc Kinney's bond was set at $50,000.00 and Taylor's bond was set at $30,000.00. The investigation is on-going and more arrests are possible in this case.

    Gorham was treated and released on the same night. Kyale Gaskins was transferred to Vidant Pitt with non-life threatening injuries. His current condition is unknown.

• Sheriff Ernie Coleman
•     Beaufort County Sheriff's Office