Police say shootings are gang-related

Wilson police have arrested and charged eight young men in connection with numerous shootings.

All eight defendants are from Wilson and range in age from 18 to 22.

“Over the past several weeks, the Wilson Police Department has responded to several shots-fired calls related to gang activity,” said Eric McInerny, public information officer with the Wilson Police Department. “Throughout the investigations, several individuals were identified as being responsible for these events.”

The charges are stemming from three separate incidents. Police are not providing the locations.
On Thursday, police obtained arrest warrants for the following suspects:

• Joshua Elijah Strickland, 21, is charged with 15 counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, four counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of felony conspiracy. Strickland received a $1,050,000 secured bond.

• Taveon Lavontae Allen, 20, is charged with 15 counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of felony conspiracy. Allen received a $1 million secured bond.

• Kenneth Marquette Edwards, 19, is charged with 15 counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of felony conspiracy. Edwards received a $2 million secured bond.

• Zakeithian Keyshonta Royster, 18, is charged with 15 counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of felony conspiracy. Royster received a $1 million secured bond.

• Jahteruis Mercer, 18, is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of felony conspiracy. Mercer received a $1 million secured bond plus a $750,000 secured bond for other pending cases.

• Raz’mire Talik Ward, 19, is charged with two counts of felony conspiracy. Ward received a $1 million bond.

• Miguel Miquon Taylor, 22, is charged with felony possession of a firearm by a felon. Taylor was jailed without bond due to a parole violation.

• George Antwan Turner Jr., 19, is charged with two counts of felony conspiracy. Turner received a $50,000 secured bond.

All eight defendants remained in the Wilson County Detention Center on Monday afternoon.

McInerny said the cases are still under investigation. Police ask anyone with information to call the Wilson Police Department at 252-399-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 252-243-2255.

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