Man charged after Rocky Mount woman fatally shot

Tyquon Marquese Draughn, 21, was arrested. In addition first-degree murder, he was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

Rocky Mount police responded to a home on Windsor Drive and found 65-year-old Sandra Faye Epps, of Rocky Mount, unresponsive with at least one gunshot wound.

Epps was pronounced dead at the scene. The relationship between Epps and Draughn was not immediately clear.

Neighbor Danny Allen heard the commotion before the shooting.

"We heard a bunch of yelling and stuff and you look out the window and you could barely see what was going on," he said. "Next thing you know, about 30 minutes to an hour later, you heard a gunshot."

Allen said he can't fathom why Epps was targeted.

"My baby mama, she went outside and I guess she heard people talking and whatnot and come to find out that's when we found out who it was, and it hurt us because she was a real nice lady and we see her walking around and always spoke to her," Allen said.

Draughn was being held in the Edgecome County jail.

The incident is the sixth murder in Rocky Mount this year, which is more than half of the total number of murders reported in the city last year.

Allen, who has two young children, said the recent acts of violence has him considering a move.

"Man, it's dangerous. That's all I can really say is it's dangerous. People just don't care anymore," he said.

Anyone with information about the incident can call the Rocky Mount Police Department at 252-972-1411 or Twin County Crime Stoppers at 252-977-1111.