2nd man arrested in April death of 18-year-old girl in Hope Mills
Police arrested two men in the months following the April 17 death on Victoria Jefferson, 18, who was shot to death in Cumberland County.
Jefferson leaves behind a one-year-old daughter and two-year-old son. Their grandparents are raising them.
Investigators on April 17, 2023, were called to a mobile home in the 5500 block of Gilcrest Sands Drive in Hope Mills. When they arrived, they found Jefferson and two other people who had been shot.
Neighbors who live near the home said the place was a hotspot for trouble.
Jefferson's best friend, Ashley Johnson, was wounded in the shooting.
"We were told that her boyfriend sent for her to come over there," said Solomon Hunt, Jefferson's father. "And when they got over there, I haven't seen the boyfriend since this took place."
Investigators said the boyfriend is not a suspect in Jefferson's murder.
Fayetteville police already arrested 21-year-old Jocephus Jones III and charged him with first-degree murder.
On Tuesday, police arrested a second suspect, Jayquan Blandshaw, 22, and charged him with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.
Bladshaw was being held with no bond in the Cumberland County Detention Center.
The family said the arrests will help bring closure to a nightmare.
"I miss my daughter completely," said mother Arlene Hunt. "Her laughter, smile, cooking for us, dancing. She loved to dance. I miss her totally. She just lights the room up with her smile."
Solomon Hunt, who is a minister, preached at his daughter's eulogy. He said it was the toughest thing he's ever had to do in 32 years of preaching.
"That Sunday I preached a message entitled 'God, it's all in your hands,' not knowing that Monday night that my daughter was going to get murdered," Solomon Hunt said.
Authorities are asking anyone that has any information about what happened to give them a call.
