Red Springs, N.C. — Hoke County Sheriff Hubert A. Peterkin is offering the public a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the murder of Jeremiah Woods, 39, who was shot in January.
On Friday, Jan. 8 around 9 p.m., deputies responded to a drive-by shooting on Duffie Road near Old Maxton Road and found a car with Woods and three other people inside. Investigators say another car pulled up beside Woods and someone began shooting.
Woods, who was driving, was shot and died the next day. A female passenger was shot but survived her injuries, and the two people in the backseat were not shot.
Woods’ family joined the sheriff’s press conference Tuesday. They said what was supposed to be a night of joy and fun ended in a nightmare.
“We had gone out to eat for my daughter’s birthday,” said Tonya Woods, the victim’s sister-in-law. “A day that was supposed to be full of happiness … we laughed, we took pictures … and we never knew what was to come later on that day.”
A person of interest has been identified, Peterkin said Tuesday, but the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office is still following leads and seeking information from the public.
Through donations over the last seven months, the public raised $10,000, which will go toward the $20,000 reward.
