WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Three shootings and two deaths in less than months have rattled both law enforcement and community in Winston-Salem.
Winston-Salem Police Chief Catrina Thompson hosted a News Conference at the Vivian H. Burke Public Safety Center, Friday. Various community leaders and law enforcement officials were present.
The purpose was to call upon the members of the community to help with solving a string of violent gun crimes in the city.
Investigators say they are getting little to no information from the community to help them solve the crimes.
Leaders made a plea to end the silence around gun violence.
"Don't subscribe to the betrayal of silence if you saw something say something if you are not comfortable with calling the police, DA. or sheriff call the Minister's Conference," said Bishop Todd Fulton of the Minister's Conference of Winston-Salem And Vicinity.
Chief Thompson announced a Crimestoppers reward of up to $5,000. That amount has now been matched by Forsyth County Sherrif's Office.
Winston-Salem Authorities believe the three shootings between April and May, are related including one shooting at a child's birthday party in a city park.
The first shooting happened on April 7th in front of Club Nova (Nova Lounge) on Cherry Street.
Investigators say seven people were shot and more than 100 people were at the scene.
They found more than a dozen spent shell casings, seized 2 guns and charged one person.
The building is currently locked with a for sale sign up and a notice that trespassers will be prosecuted.
But the deadly shootings on May 18 on Cody drive that led to the deaths of two people has authorities worried the violence will continue with retaliation. They are also concerned about the amount of firepower expended during these shootings.
"A minimum of 16 fires arms were discharged and more than 140, shots were fired. The weapons include semi-automatic pistols to semi-automatic rifles and revolvers," said Chief Catrina Thompson.
She added that ballistic evidence gathered at the various scenes connect the incidents.
"We do not want to console mothers parents community members who have lost at the cost of senseless shootings," said Elder Tembila Covington, President of the Minister's Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity.
Elder Covington challenged those who are keeping quiet to not subsribe to the betrayal of silence. He also said he know there's a code that keeps people from talking, using a street saying: "snitches get stitches and wind up in ditches."
"There are two families in our community that instead of preparing for Memorial Day, they are planning to attend funerals," added Chief Thompson.
During the news conference, Chief Thompson provided details and updates to the three active investigations involving gun violence. Those updates are summarized as follows:
APRIL 07, 2019
At approximately 1:37 a.m. on the morning of April 07, 2019, the Winston-Salem Police Department began to receive multiple reports of a shooting in the downtown area. The responding officers found a crowd of more than one-hundred people, in a chaotic scene in front of the Club Nova. As the officers arrived on the scene, multiple victims were located and multiple other victims began to arrive at local hospitals; all of whom were suffering from gunshot wounds.
Detectives were later able to determine that seven (7) people had been shot during this incident. Approximately one dozen spent shell casings were recovered from the scene and detectives were able to determine that at least three (3) firearms were discharged during the incident.
In the following days, detectives were able to recover two (2) of the guns used during this crime and eventually charged one (1) individual with "Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon."
Thanks to the efforts of local medical providers, the victims of this incident all survived and are continuing to recover from their injuries.
APRIL 13, 2019
At 7:53 p.m. on the evening of April 13, 2019, officers were dispatched to the 2400 block of Ivy Avenue on a reported "Discharging of Firearm." Detectives would later learn that a children's birthday party was being held in Blum Park; where this incident occurred.
Detectives would later recover more than fifty (50) spent shell casings and determined that a minimum of five (5) different firearms had been discharged during this event.
In the following days, detectives recovered two (2) firearms and are currently seeking one (1) suspect on an outstanding Warrant for Arrest related to this incident.
Despite the heavy exchange of gunfire in this incident, between two groups known to local law enforcement, no injuries were reported to authorities.
MAY 18, 2019
At 10:57 p.m. on the evening of May 18, 2019, officers were dispatched to the 4200 block of Cody Drive, after receiving information that multiple people had been shot at that location. The responding officers encountered a large chaotic crowd of more than one hundred (100) people. It was later determined that a cookout was being held at a residence on this street when gunfire erupted.
Detectives were able to determine that at least six (6) people were shot during this incident. Twenty-three (23) year old Jalen Chavon Cockerham died at the scene and twenty-six (26) year old Fred Douglas Hawkins III succumbed to his injuries less than seventy-two (72) hours later.
Four (4) firearms were recovered at the scene and ballistic evidence gathered during the investigation indicates that at least eight (8) firearms were discharged during this incident. Investigators recovered more than eighty (80) spent shell casings from the crime scene.
In the days that followed, detectives have seized five (5) guns and made one (1) arrest for "Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon."
At the conclusion of her comments, Chief Thompson stressed the fact that during these three incidents, thirteen (13) people were shot, two of whom lost their lives, a minimum of sixteen (16) firearms were discharged and more than one-hundred and forty (140) shots were fired.
Chief Thompson also discussed the fact that ballistic evidence recovered at these scenes, combined with other evidence gathered during the follow-up investigation to these events, has led detectives to determine that some of the same individuals were present at, and involved in, these incidents. Detectives believe these events stem from ongoing disputes between these individuals, and a willingness to collaterally harm any bystanders present, in an effort to harm one another.
During the news conference, the aforementioned community leaders and law enforcement officials called for witnesses to come forward, for community care and fellowship, accountability, and cooperation with law enforcement.
The news conference concluded with an announcement by Winston-Salem Police Chief Thompson that the CrimeStoppers reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the murders of Jalen Chavon Cockerham and Fred Douglas Hawkins III had been increased to $5,000.00. Forsyth County Sheriff B.F. Kimbrough Jr. later announced that the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office would provide a matching $5,000.00, with the same criteria for award; bringing the total award amount to $10,000.00
Authorities ask that anyone with information regarding these incidents contact the Winston-Salem Police Department at (336)773-7700 or Crime Stoppers at (336)727-2800.
Speakers included Forsyth County District Attorney James R. O'Neill, Forsyth County Sheriff B.F. Kimbrough Jr., Resident Agent in Charge J. Walsh - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Elder Tembila Covington- President of the Minister's Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity, Bishop Todd L. Fulton – Minister's Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity, Reverend Alvin E. Carlisle - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), James Perry –President of the Winston-Salem Urban League, and Cedric Russell – Russell's Funeral Home, Community Leader.