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2 Bloods gang members arrested in connection with Salisbury double homicide

By Ken Lemon, wsoctv.com
By Ken Lemon, wsoctv.com

SALISBURY, N.C. — Police confirmed Tuesday that they arrested two gang members in connection with a double homicide that left three others injured over the weekend in Salisbury.

Jalen Cook, 23, and Zakelo Duren, 23, were members of the Bloods gang, authorities said.

Anthony Eugene Gill, 22, died at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, while Daquan Robertson, 23, was found dead in the 200 block of South Church Street Saturday morning.

Duren turned himself in on charges of inciting a riot, while Cook is charged with firing the fatal shots that killed Robertson and Gill, who were roommates.

Channel 9 cameras captured Salisbury's deputy police chief and other investigators looking over the homicide scene Saturday morning.

They said an argument took place before the shooting.

[WEEKEND HOMICIDE: Grandma of Salisbury shooting victim: 'Feels like they're marking my family']

Salisbury Police Chief Jerry Stokes said the shooting wasn't gang-related, but did say gangs are a major problem in Salisbury.

"I can certainly sit here and say this is a wake-up call,” Stokes said. “We should have had a wake-up call a long time ago."

Bianca Koontz, Gill’s cousin, said Gill was not a gang member.

"It's going to be pain for a long (time). It's never going to go away,” Koontz said.

She said people have to step up to stop the shootings and end the pain for victims' families.

(Jalen Cook, Zakelo Duren)

"Y'all got to start talking,” Koontz said. “Y'all got to start speaking to these officers and telling them."

Neighbors were outraged by the recent violence.

Patrick Moore said he was at a downtown theater hours before Robertson and Gill were shot on West Fisher Street in front of downtown businesses.

“We finished up and an hour later is when it happened,” Moore said. "It's not a good situation, the fact that that's happening.”

Residents said the string of violence is hurting the city.

“It's such a beautiful city and it'd be great if people could feel comfortable here,” a resident said.

Third homicide in Salisbury in as many days

No arrests have been made after a man was found dead Monday morning from gunshot wounds on Link Avenue near Innes Street in Salisbury, police said.

When officers arrived around 10:40 a.m., they found Shawn Alexander Spry, 21, dead in the yard.

Spry's death marked Salisbury's third homicide in as many days.

Officers said Spry didn’t live in the home where he was found and police have not released a motive or any information about the gunman.

“I just pray they get him quick and he's brought to justice,” a neighbor said.

There were 20 National Night Out events planned in Salisbury for Tuesday night as the city deals with the spike in crime.

The Salisbury Police Department hired more officers over the past year and are asking the Sheriff's Office to help patrol the city as well.

Local leaders are developing an eight-step action plan to help stop the violence.

Stokes said Salisbury has had six homicides this year and they have identified suspects or made arrests in five of those cases.

Last year, Salisbury had 10 homicides with only four solved.

City Councilman Kenny Hardin said, for years, police have denied there is a gang problem.

"I'm glad we are finally acknowledging it,” Hardin said. "I have actually been talking to the city about gangs since 1996."

Hardin said acknowledging the problem is the first step toward solving it, but police can't do it alone.

"The citizens have to step up,” Hardin said. “If you know something, say something."

Hardin was on the street trying to convince people to speak out.

"Gotta start telling stuff,” Hardin said.

Anyone with information on the shootings is asked to call the Salisbury Police Department at 704-638-5333 or Crimestoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

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