Suspect arrested, charged with murder in fatal stabbing of Goldsboro rapper

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the weekend fatal stabbing of an aspiring rapper known as YBM Breezy.

Cornell Perry Ashford, 24, of 112 Wood Mill Road in Goldsboro, has been charged with murder and was being held at the Wayne County Jail without bond, according to a written statement released by the sheriff's office.

Ashford was arrested in Sampson County without incident. He was taken into custody with the help of the State Bureau of Investigation and Sampson County deputies, officials said.

According to the Wayne sheriff', McDonald, 26, and another man got in a fight at his home at 929 Dollard Town Road early Sunday morning. A third man jumped in with a knife, deputies said.

Endeavor Justen McDonald was living up to his name, building a following in eastern North Carolina as a rapper. He had performed at Raleigh's Star Bar and was planning a show in Charlotte when he was stabbed to death Sunday morning during a fight.

“Over the past year and a half, he had made a name for himself,” said Christopher Jackson, who identified himself as a friend.

McDonald was known as EJ to his friends and as Breezy to fans of YBM, Young Bosses Motivate, where Jackson was a musical collaborator.

“He just had that energy about him, like he was made for the stage. He was ready to perform anytime,” Jackson said.

Paramedics tried to revive him, but McDonald died in his driveway.

“It was just hard, and it still really hasn’t set in,” Jackson said. “I see him making it, without a doubt. He was too passionate not to make it.”

The sheriff's office said a person of interest has been identified, but officials have not yet publicly released that person's identity.

According to investigators, an autopsy to determine the cause of McDonald's death was pending.

According to those who knew McDonald, he was the father of three. His latest song, "If I Died," includes mentions of his two passions: music and family. "If I die, give my kids everything," he rapped.

Jackson said he'd keep the Breezy brand alive. "I don’t want his legacy to die with this,” he said.