Gun violence keeps police in EC busy

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) - A week into the new year, two people in Elizabeth City are dead and police have only made one arrest.

Jamiel Walker and Quinton Epps were found dead New Year's Day in an Elizabeth City neighborhood. Gyrell Lee has been arrested in connection with Epps' death, but so far, police have not charged anyone in Walker's death.

"If the girlfriends get together and tell these little boys toting these guns, 'I ain't with it,' a lot of this stuff will change," said Walker's uncle, Lemuel Walker.

Elizabeth City police say since the double homicide, they have responded to four separate shooting incidents on four consecutive days.

• Jan. 2: West Fearing Road around 10:30 p.m.
• Jan. 3: Southern Avenue and B Street around 10:30 p.m.
• Jan. 4 Ehringhaus Street and Brooks Avenue around 4 p.m.
• Jan. 5: Oak Stump Road around 11:30 p.m.

"We're highly concerned," Chief Eddie Buffaloe, Jr. said. "We have beefed up our patrols in the area."

Buffaloe went on to say police are actively pursuing all leads and are taking proactive strategies to stem the gun violence.

"Stray bullets and everything. It's just terrible," Elizabeth City resident Tony Robertson said.

Robertson, who lives close to one of the crime scenes, said people are not only tired, but are beginning to get scared.