Police canvass neighborhoods, seeking help in fatal shootings
Photo by Tevin Stinson
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
More than 100 law enforcement officers ditched their cars Tuesday morning and walked the streets of two neighborhoods looking for witnesses to a pair of shooting deaths.
Officers from 12 different agencies gathered at Union Baptist Church on N. Trade Street for a briefing session before dividing into groups to canvass neighborhoods where Jonathan R. McCravey Jr. and Kedrick L. White were fatally shot.
McCravey Jr., 26, was found on Thursday, May 26, in the 1200 block of Bohannon Park Circle with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. McCravey succumbed to his injuries early the following morning. White, 44, was found dead on the front porch of 1517 E. 23rd St. on Tuesday, June 7. According to police records, the investigation revealed White suffered an apparent gunshot wound and was ruled a homicide.
Captain Jay Edwards said along with looking for witnesses, the “Violent Crime Task Force” is an effort to inform the community. While searching for clues, officers also passed out more than 1,000 fliers informing residents about the homicides and how they can help the investigation.
“The officers will be looking for witnesses as well as educating the community on these violent crimes. We want to reassure residents that these crimes will not be tolerated.”
During a brief discussion with The Chronicle, Edwards said the WSPD feels both cases are solvable homicides and that there is information out there.
“We believe there is information out there that can help us solve these crimes,” he said. “We are willing to do whatever it takes to bring justice to the victims of these homicides.”
Before sending the officers off to canvass the neighborhoods, Lt. Steve Tollie with the criminal investigation division echoed Edwards’ statements.
“We are absolutely confident that we can solve these cases,” he said. “We will bring someone to justice for taking these lives.”
Anyone with information on these cases can call Crime Stoppers at (336) 727-2800 or the WSPD at (336) 773-7700.