Jun 1

Jun 1 Update: Hughes and Christmas indicted by grand jury for first degree murder

On May 2, 2021, Kinston Police Department found Jeffery Hill lying on the ground of a parking lot in downtown Kinston with injuries to his head and face. He was taken to UNC Lenoir and then transferred to Vidant Medical Center. Hill died a week later due to his injuries. The two men, Joseph Hughes and Clinton Christmas were indicted by a grand jury for first degree murder.

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Case Update:

Late Tuesday, May 11, 2021, Officers of the Kinston Police Department learned that Jeffery Hill, age 58 of Kinston, NC had passed away at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC. The Kinston Police Department has been in contact with Mr. Hill’s family and with the District Attorney’s office. This incident is still an active investigation and officers are conferring with the District Attorney’s office about additional charges.

On 05/02/2021 at 12:22 a.m., Kinston Police responded to a person tampering with motor vehicles in a parking lot on the 100 Blk. of W. Gordon St. Kinston, NC. Officers arrived in the area and did not observe anyone matching the description given by the caller. While checking the parking lot, officers found Jeffery Hill, age 57 of Kinston, NC lying on the ground with injuries to his head and face. Lenoir County EMS was called and the subject was taken to UNC Lenoir and later transferred to Vidant Medical Center for his injuries. At this time, the victim is still listed in Critical Condition at Vidant Medical Center. Anyone that may have been in the area that witnessed this incident or has any information about this incident is asked to contact the Kinston Police Department at one of the numbers listed below.

Case Update:

On Thursday, May 6, 2021 Officers arrested and charged Joseph Dixon Hughes, age 45 of Kinston, NC with Assault Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury for his involvement in this case.

On Tuesday, May 11, 2021, Officers arrested and charged Clinton Wade Christmas, age 41 of Raleigh, NC with Assault Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury for his involvement in this case.

This case remains an active Investigation and anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Kinston Police Department. At this time, Mr. Hill is still listed in Critical Condition at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC.

The Kinston Police Department places the highest priority on investigating crimes of violence perpetrated in our city. We will investigate such cases with no compromise for crime, and continue to seek assistance from the community we proudly serve. If anyone has information about this incident, please call the Kinston Police Department’s Tips Line at 252-939-4020 or Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444. Calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential and anonymous, and the caller may be eligible for a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest.