A Gaston man was arrested today in the murder of a 45-year-old Pleasant Hill man on Monroe Street in Roanoke Rapids Saturday night.
A police report identifies the murder victim as John Paul Harrison Jr.
Captain B.L. Martin of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said this afternoon he was not prepared to discuss motive in the case as investigators are continuing to follow up on leads.
Martin did say Harrison was outside his vehicle when he was shot with what is believed to be a handgun multiple times, allegedly by 19-year-old Keon Montreal Manning around 7 p.m.
The murder occurred in the 100 block of Monroe Street and the victim fled the area in a vehicle but hit a parked car at the intersection of Monroe and Preston streets.
Chief Chuck Hasty said in a statement the police department took Manning into custody around 9:30 a.m. today with assistance of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.
He has been charged with murder.