Man charged in fatal shooting of Henderson teen

Henderson, N.C. — Henderson police have charged a man in the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old Thursday afternoon.

Officers were called to the intersection of David and Nicholas streets about 1:30 p.m., where they found Ja'Quon Seward suffering from a gunshot wound.

Seward was taken to Maria Parham Hospital, where he died.

Daquan Ortiz, 20, was arrested Thursday night and charged with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting. He was being held without bond until he appears in court Friday morning.

It wasn't clear whether the two men knew each other.

James Rainey, who witnessed the shooting, said Seward was standing on the corner with several people when shots rang out.

"Boom, boom, boom, and we saw someone lying on the ground," he said.

Kisha Eaton, Seward's mother, said the teen was always good for a laugh.

"That was my baby, and they shot him down in the middle of the street," she said. "My son is never going to come through that doorstep again."

"He just got caught by the wrong person with a gun," said Flora Wilson, Seward's cousin.

The women said Seward was shot in the chest.

Investigators blocked the intersection of David and Nicholas streets for hours while they pored over the scene with metal detectors, marking with numbered tags dozens of potential pieces of evidence.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925.

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Over 70% of children are born to unwed mothers in the African American community. That's the problem plain and simple. It's hard enough to raise a child with a full complement of parents and family support. These young men have no male role models in their life to dicipline them and teach them how to be responsible.

whiffer1
February 22, 2013 6:00 p.m.

Instead of blaming guns and upbringing why not blame what really influences young gang members and most gun deaths. Most shootings can be related to narcotics (even more so in Henderson it's nothing but a modern day sodom and Gomorrah). Blame the rappers who flash stacks of money,guns and cars on their videos and rap about selling narcotics fixamerica

Hey I agree. I all for drug legalization and regulation too.

WageSlave
February 22, 2013 1:20 p.m.

Well said beloved sparrow. I wish people would stop blaming everything else and accept the fact that there is evil people in this world that commit crimes. Everyone wants to blame everything else except the person who committed the crime. Those who say he did not have a father figure growing up. So what, plenty of people come from divorced homes and still live prosperous lives. People are given the same chance at life growing up. They have schools paid for, meals paid for, live off government so everyone else is paid for. Tell ,me why they can't be normal, obey the law, and not commit crimes. People make their own choices in life. Instead of blaming guns and upbringing why not blame what really influences young gang members and most gun deaths. Most shootings can be related to narcotics (even more so in Henderson it's nothing but a modern day sodom and Gomorrah). Blame the rappers who flash stacks of money,guns and cars on their videos and rap about selling narcotics

fixamerica
February 22, 2013 12:20 p.m.

I DON'T think it's right that the government TAKE my money to help people who just sit on their behinds with their hands out expecting everything be given to them!!! Lady Marksman

the government gives very little to the folks you describe.

Most government "hand out" money goes to the working poor, the disabled, and the elderly.

More than 90% of it in fact.

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3677

The notion there's any huge number of able-bodied adults who do no work and live entirely off government handouts is simply a fiction.

junkmail5
February 22, 2013 12:04 p.m.

junkmail5 -

If I had more money in my pocket I would help support my local "poor" people - IF they were trying to better themselves and trying to get back on their feet!

I DON'T think it's right that the government TAKE my money to help people who just sit on their behinds with their hands out expecting everything be given to them!!!