BY AMANDA VANDERBROEK/ROANOKE-CHOWAN NEWS-HERALD

amanda.vanderbroek@r-cnews.com

 

SEABOARD –Seaboard, N.C., police on Monday identified the weekend’s murder victims, killed in separate shootings for which no arrests have been made.

Damon Riddick, 17, was shot to death during a Friday evening break-in at a home at 307 Faison St.

The second murder occurred Sunday in an area known as “the Fox Hole” and claimed the life of Kelvin Wilson Branch, 24, of 107 Calbert St. and injured his cousin, Thomas Milton, 23, of Jersey City, N.J.

“We’re not ruling out anything,” said Seaboard Police Chief George Reed when asked if the two shootings were related. “We’re still following up on leads.”

According to Reed, at 11:30 a.m. Sunday he heard several gunshots while in his office interviewing a person concerning Friday’s murder.

Reed discovered Branch lying on the railroad tracks behind a home off Highway 186. He also saw Mitlon, who suffered a leg injury.

Branch was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Milton was taken to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, where he is in stable condition.

Reed learned a number of individuals were waiting behind a storage barn as Branch and Milton walked back from a store.

Reed said the possible weapons used were shotguns and a handgun.

“There were five to six individuals wearing black hoodies and black bandanas seen running (after the shooting),” he said. “There was a black Pathfinder seen leaving the scene and a BOLO (be on the look out) was issued for that vehicle.”

Reed said five homes were hit by bullets during Sunday’s shooting.

“We were blessed that no one (else) was injured,” he said.

Dianah Boyd, whose home is near the railroad tracks on Pine Street, said she heard “a series” of gunshots.

“It sounded like a machine gun,” she said.

The outside of Boyd’s home was riddled with bullet holes. She estimated her home was struck 12 times. Two of those bullets breached the walls of her single-wide trailer. One bullet lodged in her refrigerator while another passed through her kitchen, living room and one bathroom wall before it was stopped by the opposite wall.

Boyd, who was not hurt, was in the back room of her home when she heard the gunshots.

Boyd’s sister’s home next door and another neighbor’s home also were struck by bullets. A shattered door window was visible from Boyd’s home.

“We have several leads we’re continuing to investigate,” he said.

Friday’s murder occurred at 7:30.

Upon responding, the officer met with the victim’s 21-year-old brother, Darrius Riddick, who informed the officer his brother had been shot.

Reed said an unknown person wearing a black hoodie and black bandanna over their face entered the home through the back door with a pistol-gripped, sawed-off shotgun. The suspect struggled with Damon Riddick before Riddick was shot in the face.

Meanwhile, Darrius Riddick escaped to the attic.

Damon was transported to Halifax Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Reed said he has increased patrols in town and the department will be staffed with at least one officer at all times.

He urged citizens to report anything suspicious.

Anyone with information is asked to call Seaboard police at 252-589-5061 or 252-578-7322. The Northampton County Crime Stoppers line can also be contacted at 252-534-1110.