On Thursday, October 10, 2024, detectives from the Kinston Police Department identified a suspect in an ongoing shooting case as 24-year-old Majyia Bryant of Kinston. Detectives located Ms. Bryant leaving her residence and transported her to the police station where she was charged with attempted first-degree murder, six counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, felony conspiracy, and malicious assault in secret. Bryant, already on pre-trial release for an unrelated matter, is currently being held in the Lenoir County Jail without bond.

In addition to Bryant's arrest, arrest warrants for the shooting were obtained for 23-year-old Zarek Mattocks of Kinston and 27-year-old Justice Hicks of LaGrange.

On the same day, around 6:45 PM, a Kinston Police Officer spotted Justice Hicks at a residence on the 400 block of N Adkin Street. Officers quickly responded and took Hicks into custody without incident. A subsequent search warrant for the residence revealed illegal narcotics and a firearm. Hicks has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, six counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, felony conspiracy, malicious assault in secret, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Additional charges from the search include possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony possession of cocaine, felony maintaining a dwelling, and felony possession of Schedule VI, as well as possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana. Hicks was placed in the Lenoir County Jail under a secured bond.

On Friday, October 11, 2024, at approximately 7:00 AM, officers received information about Zarek Mattocks' location. The Kinston Police Department’s SWAT team executed an operation at a residence on the 600 block of Darby Avenue, where Mattocks was taken into custody. He is currently being processed at the Lenoir County Jail and faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, six counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, felony conspiracy, malicious assault in secret, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

“The shooting of an innocent 13-year-old is alarming, senseless and is an evil example of the disregard violent offenders have for others who are in the way of their intended target. I want to reassure the members of our community that the Kinston Police Department remains steadfast in its commitment to the safety and security of everyone and our officers will continue to vigorously pursue and hold accountable anyone who commits violent crime within our community. This case is an example of our dedicated officers working tirelessly to bring justice to the victim and community.” – Chief Keith Goyette

On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at approximately 8:01 PM, Kinston Police Officers were dispatched to a report of a gun shot victim in the area of Jack Rountree Apartments.  Officers were also advised that the victim had been transported to UNC Lenoir via personal vehicle. Officers responded to both Jack Rountree and to UNC Lenoir.  Contact was made with the victim, a juvenile, and family at the hospital.  The victim was suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the right arm. 

Officers located the scene of the incident near the 2100 block of Viking Dr.  Kinston Detectives and Crime Scene personnel responded and are actively conducting further investigation into the incident. 

The Kinston Police Department places the highest priority on investigating crimes of violence perpetrated in our city. We will investigate such cases without 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, Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444, or through the Tip411 App that is available on both Apple and Android devices.  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.