Police identify suspect in Greenville drive-by shooting

Greenville, N.C. — Police have charged a Greenville man in the drive-by shooting that killed two along East Fifth Street early Tuesday.

James Richardson was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He was basketball standout at Rose High School and played some professional basketball overseas.

Police allege he fired the shots that killed ECU student Edgar Landon Blackley, 21, and local pizza shop owner Charles Andrew “Drew” Kirby, 29, as they stood outside the Other Place.

Kip Gaskins of the Greenville Police Department said there was a fight at the intersection of Fifth and Reed streets just after 2 a.m., and that the shooting happened shortly thereafter.

The men were struck in their upper bodies by bullets fired from a white sedan. Gaskins said the victims were most likely innocent bystanders.

East Carolina University sent an alert to students Tuesday morning, describing the suspects as two black men. "The first suspect is described as having light skin, being tall, and wearing a white T-shirt. The other suspect is described as being tall, wearing a white V-neck shirt and wearing a red hat," the alert said.

The vehicle that the suspect was driving at the time of the shooting was found around noon Tuesday on McDowell Street in Greenville, police said.

Police have also identified other people who were with Richardson at the time of the shooting. It's unclear if they'll face charges once Richardson is caught.

Police asked anyone with any information that could help with the investigation to call 252-329-4317 or 252-758-7777.