Rocky Mount parents push for answers after son drowns in Jordan Lake

Jaylan "JJ" Petway died at Jordan Lake on Saturday afternoon, and his parents want to know what happened.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is the lead agency on the investigation. One of the investigators said that the incident is still being investigated and it’s unclear what exactly happened near the Farrington Boat Ramp.

Radio traffic from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department on Broadcastify showed a call for help came in just after 5:00 p.m.

"Caller is reporting a 17 year old male fell off a paddle board. They are unable to find him somewhere in the lake," the dispatcher said.

The call was about Petway.

His mother and father, Nashonda and Quentin Whitaker, say he was a hard-working athletic senior at Rocky Mount High School.

"He did really good, really good in school and stuff. He was well known in school. He was taking ROTC in school and stuff like that," Nashonda Whitaker said. "He loved to play basketball. He loved to play basketball morning, noon, and night. Football too!"

Crews searched Saturday afternoon and evening for more than an hour.

The Whitakers said their son couldn’t swim, and he would have known not to be out on the lake.

"I’m pretty about 90 to 100% sure that he wouldn’t have got out on the water," Quentin Whitaker said.

Petway’s parents also have concerns about the timeline of events.

"I can’t rest until I find out the exact details on what really went down at Jordan Lake that day," Quentin Whitaker said. "I basically just want answers. I want his soul to rest."

A spokesperson for the Nash County School District said counselors were on hand at Rocky Mount High School on Monday, and students and staff participated in wearing black to honor Jaylan.

"Jaylan was a senior who was well on his way to finishing high school. This loss reminds us that life is so, so precious, and we should strive to make the most of each day by being kind, respectful and caring for one another," a letter sent to parents said about Petway.