MURFREESBORO – Eight Virginians are behind bars in Hertford County following an incident Sunday afternoon which may have been in retaliation for last week’s murder of Johnny Parker Jr.

“We believe the incident Sunday may very well have been a retaliation event,” Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan said. “We need people to let us do our job and not try to take it into their own hands.”

The Sunday incident came at approximately the same time Parker’s funeral service was held at Nebo Missionary Baptist Church. Parker was murdered outside his residence on Pinetops Circle in Woodridge Mobile Home Park last Tuesday.

Northampton County Sheriff Wardie Vincent said he had stationed deputies near the church for fear of some type of retaliation.

“We received several telephone calls that caused concern,” Sheriff Vincent said. “As a precaution we had officers in the area in case there was an incident, but nothing happened at the site of the funeral.”

While there was no disruption at Nebo, there was a shooting at Woodridge that is believed to have been related.

“We received a call at approximately 1:58 p.m. that some subjects were shooting at other subjects at Woodridge,” Sheriff Vaughan reported. “When officers arrived at the scene, they were told two different men jumped out of a vehicle and fired shots. Those shots hit a residence in the mobile home park.”

Hertford County Sheriff’s Detective Dexter Hayes and Sgt. Scott Cofield obtained information that led them to seek a white Ford Crown Victoria and a gold Pontiac Grand Am in connection with the shooting.

Sheriff Vaughan was the person who found the vehicles which led to the arrest of eight individuals.

“I happened to be the one who saw those vehicles and they turned down River Street in Murfreesboro,” Sheriff Vaughan said. “I called for assistance and when other officers arrived, we made a traffic stop with the assistance of the North Carolina Highway Patrol.”

The sheriff reported that one vehicle – the Crown Victoria – stopped while the other one continued to the end of River Street.

After stopping the first vehicle, five arrests were made by deputies.

Michael Orlando Britt, 19, of North Avenue in Virginia Beach, Va. Is charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, attempted first degree murder and discharging a firearm into occupied property. He is in the Hertford County Jail under a $125,000 cash bond.

Four others from that vehicle were arrested in the incident. They were:

* Nicholas Anthony Mastropasqua, 18, of 500 Rollestone Drive in Virginia Beach. He was charged with felony conspiracy, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in the Hertford County Jail under a $100,000 cash bond;

* Derrick Lee Britt, 24, of Arthor Avenue in Virginia Beach was charged with two counts of felony conspiracy. He is under a $50,000 cash bond;

* Tashone Daquan Street, 18, of 4616 Malwood Way in Virginia Beach was also charged with two counts of felony conspiracy and placed under a $50,000 cash bond; and

* Lara Ann Bailey, 19, of 1200 Ginger Crest in Virginia Beach. She was charged with two counts of felony conspiracy and placed under a$50,000 bond as well.

After those five suspects were taken into custody and more assistance arrived, officers proceeded to the second car and made three additional arrests.

Jessica Melissa Holloman, 19, of 4820 Honey Grove Road in Virginia Beach, Justin Allen McNeil, 19, of Windsor Wood Boulevard in Virginia Beach and Jordan Michael Condra, 19, of 420 Green Hollow Lane in Sanelston, Virginia were taken into custody. Each of the three were charged with two counts of felony conspiracy and placed in the Hertford County Jail under a $50,000 cash bond.

“First of all, I want to thank Chief (Darrell) Rowe and the Murfreesboro Police Department for their assistance,” Sheriff Vaughan said. “I also appreciate the work of the North Carolina Highway Patrol. All of my officers were called out as well and they responded to help and I appreciate that.”

Sheriff Vaughan said his office would not tolerate this type of incident.

“We are going to do everything we can to protect our community,” Sheriff Vaughan insisted. “We’re not going to tolerate it.”

Meanwhile, Sheriff Vaughan said his office continues to investigate Parker’s murder.