Violence in eastern NC: Shootings in separate counties lead to 4 deaths in one day

WRAL's Keenan Willard has been traveling to each of these communities today – and people are saying this violence is starting to feel more and more common.

As family members try to cope with losses, others in these communities say they don't want this violence to begin to feel normalized.

Around 3:15 a.m. Sunday morning, Wilson police were called to a home on Thistle Drive, where they found 31-year-old Troy Lofton, who had been shot and killed. Police have not yet named a suspect.

Family members were too emotional to speak with WRAL News, but said Lofton leaves behind a young daughter.

Some neighbors say were woken up by the gunshots – and now some neighbors say they are looking to move elsewhere.

Brandon Cherry, who lives across the street from Thistle Drive, said, "It just makes you want to just seclude yourself from society, just being close to people and not knowing where their mind’s at."

Less than an hour later, police in Rocky Mount say they were called to a pool hall and convenience store on Madison Street, where 33-year-old Antoine Armstead was found suffering from a gunshot wound and laying in the street.

Police say he died at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.

Rashon Knight, 36, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and is being held at the Edgecombe County Detention Center with no bond. Masia Griffin, 23, has a warrant out for his arrest but police have not yet been able to find him.

Armstead's grandmother took to social media to mourn his loss and call for change, saying the senseless killing needs to stop.

Later that same day, around 5 p.m., police responded to calls of gunshots at a Goldsboro home on Bizzell Court, where 33-year-old James Smoot had been shot multiple times. He died shortly after paramedics arrived.

Within two hours, police arrested David Green, charging him with first degree murder.

On Monday, Smoot's wife met WRAL News at the door, but was too overcome with emotion to speak about her husband's death.

She said Smoot's parents had come from Washington, D.C. and were trying to decide what to do next.

A fourth homicide was reported in Halifax around 10 a.m., when the sheriff's office found the body of 39-year-old Kelvin Richardson on Longbridge Road. He had also been shot and killed.

People in these eastern NC communities say they hope these shootings serve as a wakeup call for communities that have grown too comfortable with violence.

"Honestly, it’s becoming common in this day and time. For people to lose their lives every day behind senseless violence," said Cherry.

There is no indication any of these homicides are connected, and the motive isn't clear for any of the shootings.