The
ews
Journal
If it happened, if s news to us
75t
No.03VoLl02
Raeford&Hok (
Wednesday, April 4,2007
Teen killed as she sat in car
Friend and suspect says shooting was accidental
Jerticha Ford
By VicroRiANA Summers
Staff writer
A Turlington School sophomore
described as a “super student” was
killed last Wednesday around 7 p.m.
allegedly by her ex-boyfriend.
Jerticha Ford, 16 of 156 Malloy
Street, was wounded when a 9 mm
gun discharged at close range while
she was seated in the passenger side
of a vehicle with suspect 17-year-old
Jamel Gates, Hoke Sheriff Hubert
Peterkin said. “She was struck in the
side,” Peterkin said.
The couple was parked in the vehicle
at her next-door neighbor’s home when
the gun was fired, Peterkin added.
“One of our deputies who arrived
first at the scene of the shooting tried
desperately to save her life until emer
gency medics arrives,” Peterkin said.
“The response was very fast. Everyone
tried to save her.”
Ford was transported to Cape Fear
Valley Medical Centertm Wednesday
night, where surgery was performed.
Marsha Ford, mother of Jerticha, said
a hospital spokesman said Jerticha was
only temporarily revived.
“I am thankful that everyone did
what they could to spare my daughter’s
life,” Mrs. Ford said.
Gates, of Reeves Street, was a former
classmate of Ford and was labeled a
troublemaker by some teachers. He has
been charged with felony involuntary
manslaughter.
“We do know that he did not just get
the gun the day she was shot,” Peterkin
said. “But our investigation does show
that the gunshot was not planned.”
Gates is being detained in the Hoke
County Jail on a $105,000 secured
bond after initially being held without
bond. Though charged as an adult, he is
incarcerated in a regular juvenile cell. A
source that asked not to be named said
Gates cried most of the first night in jai 1
after being told Jerticha had died.
Mrs. Ford said she wants answers,
saying she is suspicious of the circum
stances of her daughter’s fatal shooti ng.
She said Gates fled after allegedly
shooting Jerticha, and she said she is
upset he did not appear to render aid to
her daughter. Mrs. Ford said she was
not acquainted with Jamel nor did she
know there was a boyfriend-girlfriend
relationship between the pair. (See
related article on Page 1.)
“My other daughter said Jamel ran
away in the company of another boy
after my daughter was shot,” Mrs. Ford
said. “I was also told by law enforce
ment that it appeared my daughter was
struggling with the gun.
(See TEEN SHOT, page 4A)
Family, students
mourn victim
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Jerticha Ford, a popular teen stu
dent at Turlington School, was buried
yesterday after a funeral held in the
school’s auditorium. A tribute of
100 balloons was also sent aloft by
classmates and family at the gravesite
(See MOURNS, page 4A)
i
\
A student at Turlington School grieves.
Man chased, shot dead
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
A second shooting last
week ended in the death of
a former Hoke High student
who had returned to reside in
Hoke after a hiatus in Ten
nessee.
Suspected as a victim of a
high-speed pursuit, 34-year-
old Michael Freeman was
found with a gunshot wound
to his head. The Hoke Sher
iffs Office is seeking the as
sailant or assailants involved
in the slaying of Freeman, of
Purvis Court.
During the apparent
chase that ensued on Murph
McLauchlin Road in South
Hoke, Freeman reportedly
lost control of his vehicle. He
crashed into a tree at around
12:06 a.m. on Wednesday
morning.
The motive for Freeman’s
murder has the Hoke Sheriff s
Office baffled. However, an
acquaintance of Freeman’s
said his killing may be do
mestic-related.
“He was in his car being
chased,” Hoke sheriff Hubert
Peterkin said. “His car was
being fired upon, riddled with
over 15 rounds from a high-
powered weapon.
“Our investigation shows
(See CHASED, page 4A)
2 suspected dmg kingpins
arrested in three-county bust
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Two suspected interstate
drug trafficking ringleaders
have been arrested and one is
still sought after a tri-county
undercover drug raid was
successfully conducted on
Monday, according to Hoke
sheriff Hubert Peterkin.
“This could have turned
out to be a deadly situation,
but fortunately none of our
officers were injured in the
drug busts,” Peterkin said
Vargas
T commend all
Alonzo
yesterday,
the officerst for rounding up
these drug trafficking sus
pects without them showing
any resistance.”
The Hoke Sheriffs nar
cotics task force, along with
drug enforcement units from
(See DRUG BUST, page 4A)
County picks Fields as attorney
Raeford Presbyterian
gets new pastor
pageZB
County wants
to reduce budget
pageSA
Aide convicted
of assaulting patient
page6A
Beach Music Concert
returns to Festival
page IB
Williamson signs
withElon
jwge7A
'W
William Fields
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
A united Hoke board of commission
ers agreed to hire Raeford lawyer Wil
liam Fields, who has served as Raeford’s
city attorney, as the new county attorney
retroactive as of April 1.
The board also simultaneously voted
unanimously to cancel their agreement
with Fayetteville attorney Neil Yarbor
ough at their Monday night meeting. He
served as county attorney for 14 years.
During his tenure he was recognized by
the N.C. Association of County Commis
sioners as attorney of the year.
Yarborough advised the county
through the turbulent period when former
county manager Bernice McPhatter was
convicted of embezzlement.
Yarborough was complimentary of
Fields. Likewi.se, Fields said Yarborough
was a fine attorney whom he also ad
mired. Fields is a partner with Willcox,
McFadyen, Fields and Sutherland located
on East Edinborough Avenue.
Fields comes to the county board
with an array of experience in civic af
fairs. He has served with the Hoke Land
(See ATTORNEY, page 6A)
Indgx
Calendar
...7A
Classifieds
...7B
Deaths
...3A
Editorials
...2A
Legals
...6B
Schools
...3B
Sports
...7A
We’re on the web at
www.thenews-joumaI.com
Read by 3,000 each week
McNeill honored, parking again discussed by council
By Bill Lindau
Freelance writer
Mary Archie McNeill, a
retired music instructor who
played a key role in Raeford’s
redevelopment, was recog
nized for her efforts by the
Raeford City Council at its
regular monthly meeting
Monday night.
Downtown parking was
another issue to which council
paid close attention, hearing
some recommendations by
a representative from the
North Carolina Department
of Commerce.
McNeill, accompanied by
her husband Neill, received
a resolution of appreciation
from the council for the years
she served on the Raeford
Development Commission,
Dec. 6, 1999 to Feb. 12. She
was one of the leaders in the
city’s StreetScape project,
a downtown revitalization
program.
In another matter, Jason
Epley of the N.C. Depart
ment of Commerce shared
his observations on the park
ing situation in downtown
Raeford, especially on the
blocks between East Central
and East Elwood avenues and
from Main Street to North
Stewart Street. Four members
of the audience spoke about
parking in those areas in the
public comment part of the
meeting.
Council took no action on
the issue.
(See COUNCIL, page 6A)
McNeill accepts plaque as her husband, Neill, looks on.
Minshew reflects on career dating to civil rights era
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Raeford resident Delbert
Minshew dodged bullets and
patrolled thousands of miles
as a former Greensboro police
officer and Highway Patrol
trooper for 34 years.
During the racial tension
the night Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. was assassinated,
Minshew .said, he narrowly
mis.sed being shot in Wilm
ington.
That night stands out as the
retired officer andcivic leader
reflected on his career.
He was assigned to help
with possible civil unrest
A
when a barrage of bullets
shattered the glass of his
patrol car.
“One trooper had a bullet
richochet off his hel met, and it
almost hit me,” Minshew said.
“1 never really anticipated
something like that would
happen.
“Pow-I hear that soundfive
times, and then 1 realized my
(See MINSHEW, page 5A)
'3
Minshew,seated center,with family;Larry (standing,left to right,
Debbie, Laura,Tony, Brian; wife jean (seated, left) and Lindsey.
Aas
Minshew’s rear window was shot out the night King died.