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AHOSKIE – An Ahoskie man found lying in the street early Saturday morning died of a gunshot wound.

Ahoskie Police Chief Jimmy Asbell said his officers responded to a call at approximately 12:29 am from a motorist traveling on Hayes Street near Railroad Street who drove up on an unresponsive person lying at the edge of the roadway.

Upon the arrival of the officers and Hertford County EMS, they found William Nathaniel Raynor, age 44, deceased.

Asbell said an autopsy listed the cause of death as a gunshot wound. The report from that autopsy was completed Tuesday morning.

Asbell added that his detectives and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are working the case.

“We have very little information at this point,” Asbell said Tuesday afternoon. “We’re trying to figure out where Mr. Raynor was and possibly who he was with in the hours leading up to this death. If you saw him earlier in the day on Friday (March 10) or later that night, please call 252-332-5011. Individuals can also call if they saw or heard something suspicious in the area where Mr. Raynor’s body was found.”