Mount Olive police are investigating two separate fatal weekend shootings that left two people dead, the second and third such deadly incidents in town since January.
Currently there is nothing to suggest that the shootings on Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25, are related, Police Chief Jason Hughes said.
One of the two incidents took place on Saturday March 25 in the 100 block of Daly Boulevard.
Upon arrival, officers found McKinley Mathis Jr., no age listed, of Mount Olive, suffering from gunshot wounds. Wayne County EMS responded and pronounced Mathis dead.
Following an investigation, Clifton Leach, no age or address listed, was identified as a suspect in the death of Mathis, Hughes said
A warrant for an open count of murder was issued for Leach, who turned himself into Mount Olive police on Sunday, March 26.
Leach was booked into the Wayne County Jail in Goldsboro and given no bond.
2nd shooting
On Friday, March 24, at approximately 10:52 p.m., police responded to a call of a person lying in the roadway in the 600 block of Connor Street.
When officers arrived they found Jamal Tyjuan Pearsall, no age listed, of Mount Olive suffering from gunshot wounds. Wayne County EMS responded and pronounced Pearsall dead.
Police investigators responded to the scene and began the investigation into Pearsall’s death. The investigation is ongoing, and investigators are currently following up on leads, Hughes said.
Anyone with information about either shooting, or any other crime in the Wayne County area is asked to call or text Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255 or submit a tip at p3tips.com. Callers will remain anonymous.
Crime Stoppers gives cash rewards for information leading to arrests. The rewards are up to $500 for misdemeanors and up to $1,000 for felony arrests. Crime Stoppers is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, funded solely by private donations.
To make a donation, contact Goldsboro Wayne Crime Stoppers Director Judy Lane at 919-734-8177 or the Mount Olive Police Department at 919-658-5031.