Slain child, parents identified in Wilson County murder-suicide; 2 others recovering from gunshots

SHARPSBURG, N.C. (WNCN) — A mother and daughter have been identified as the victims of a murder-suicide carried out by 32-year-old DaQuan Marcato Jones on Sunday.

The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office reported 32-year-old DaQuan Marcato Jones shot and killed 27-year-old Kiera Massenburg before killing himself. The sheriff’s office said he also shot their 6-year-old daughter Zoey Jones and two others, who were all sent to the hospital.

As of Monday evening, family members posted on social media that young Zoey had died from her injuries, though authorities have not confirmed that. Now family are seeking help from the public as well as their loved ones to raise money on GoFundMe for their funeral expenses .

Jail records show Jones was released from the Edgecombe County Detention Center one day before carrying out the murder-suicide. Court records show Jones was charged with assault inflicting serious bodily injury after deputies say he punched Massenburg in the face on July 24. According to those documents, Jones knocked out Massenburg’s teeth and fractured her nose.

Around 5 a.m. Sunday, deputies with the WCSO and officers with the Sharpsburg Police Department responded to 141 Weaver Circle in Sharpsburg in reference to a call regarding several gunshot victims. Deputies and officers found 27-year old Makyah Page Arrington and 30-year-old Devonte Ricks with gunshot wounds.

Both victims were taken to the hospital for surgery. WCSO reported they were friends of Jones and Massenburg.

The sheriff’s office said Jones left the Weaver Circle location and dropped off his daughter Zoey, who was also had a gunshot wound, at a home in Nash County. She was taken to the hospital for treatment. WCSO said she was in life-threatening condition.

Detectives learned that Jones was at a residence on Jamie Road in Nash County.

“A plan of action was put in place to apprehend Jones. Nash County Sheriff’s Office SRT Team was activated, Wilson County Sheriff Office SRT Team was placed on standby,” the news release said.

The Nash County Sheriff’s Office made entry into the home and found Jones dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, WCSO said.

Massenburg was found dead inside the car Jones was driving when he left the Weaver Circle home.

The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office said Jones and Massenburg were in a dating relationship and had a history of domestic violence throughout their time together. On the morning of the shooting, it was reported a domestic dispute between them led to the shooting.

“An incident like this is disheartening to the community and to the families that will endure this pain for the rest of their lives. This does not make any sense when you see someone who could’ve taken a second chance in life to change his behavior,” Wilson County Sheriff Calvin L. Woodard Jr. said in a statement.

“His actions have restricted a child from having a chance to enjoy life, play with dolls, go to prom and tell her mother that she loves her every day. Prayers definitely go out to the family as the system needs to work more to protect innocent people from gun violence. ”

In 2019, Jones was convicted of assault on a female and false imprisonment, according to state records.

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