Shooters’ get-away vehicle wrecks; suspects at large

Published 2:42 pm Thursday, December 6, 2012

AHOSKIE – Three suspects are wanted by the Ahoskie Police following a shooting and a vehicle chase that subsequently led to a wreck and jump-and-run here early Thursday afternoon.

Jonathan Brioni Rascoe, 22, of Commerce Court, Aulander; John Jon Rascoe, 20, of West Saluda Hall Road, Ahoskie; and 18-year-old Brenyetta Johnteice Rascoe of Bakers Store Road, Woodland, each have warrants drawn for their arrest.

Jonathan Brioni Rascoe

Jonathan Rascoe and John Rascoe may be considered as armed and extremely dangerous.

Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh said the series of crimes began with an individual being shot as he sat in his car on North Academy Street.

“The victim was met byEMSat another location a few blocks up. He was transported to our local hospital (Vidant Roanoke-Chowan) by his parents,” said Fitzhugh, adding that the wounds to the victim were not considered as life threatening.

Sgt. R.W. Sawyer of the Ahoskie office of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said he and fellow NCHP troopers were involved in a short chase of the suspects’ vehicle shortly after they received information about the shooting.

“We were actually waved down by the (shooting) victim and he pointed us to the suspect vehicle,” Sawyer said while on the scene of the wreck. “We attempted to stop that vehicle and talk to the driver and passengers and their car took off. We pursued the vehicle to this point where the vehicle wrecked and the driver and passenger jumped and ran.

John Jon Rascoe

“We’re pretty sure who we are looking for,” Sawyer continued, adding that the Highway Patrol was investigating the motor vehicle accident, which occurred approximately one-quarter of one mile west of the WRCS/WQDK radio station on NC 42, while the Ahoskie Police was handling the shooting investigation.

With the assistance of the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office, the Ahoskie Police launched a foot search, using two APD K-9’s, of the suspects who reportedly entered a wooded area behind a residence at the accident scene.

The accident caused the alleged get-away vehicle to land on its roof in the front yard of that same residence. Sawyer said that the vehicle, traveling west on NC 42, crossed the eastbound lane, exited the roadway, ran through a ditch and flipped one and one-half times before coming to rest in the yard of the residence.

As a precautionary measure,BearfieldPrimary SchoolandAhoskieElementary Schoolwere both placed on lockdown for a short period of time Thursday afternoon. HCPS Superintendent Dr. Michael Perry confirmed that information, adding that both schools returned to normal operation after the Central Office in Winton was given the “all clear” by the Ahoskie Police and Hertford County Sheriff’s Office.

Brenyetta Johnteice Rascoe

“We also contacted the parents/guardians of our students who live out by the radio station to inform them of this series of incidents, to include that the suspects involved in the shooting were still at large in that particular area,” Perry said.

APD Captain Michele A. Garrett investigated the incident. Fitzhugh said a report was taken from the victim; crime scene evidence was collected; and photographs were taken. Garrett also collected evidence and took photos at the accident scene.

Anyone with information that will be beneficial to this case is encouraged to call to the Ahoskie Police Department at (252) 332-5012 and ask for Captain Michele Garrett.

“I would like to thank the Highway Patrol, Hertford County Sheriff’s Office and Probation Parole for their assistance in this incident. In addition, I would like to thank the media for their assistance as well in putting out the information to the public,” Fitzhugh said.

This vehicle, believed to have been used by three suspects involved in a Thursday afternoon shooting in Ahoskie, wrecked in the front yard of a residence on NC 42 West following a short chase by the NC Highway Patrol. Staff Photo by Cal Bryant

About Cal Bryant

Cal Bryant, a 40-year veteran of the newspaper industry, serves as the Editor at Roanoke-Chowan Publications, publishers of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Gates County Index, and Front Porch Living magazine.

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