A New York man has been arrested and charged with murder after authorities say he killed a Charlotte, North Carolina man. Rumor has it that the victim and murder suspect were in a relationship but authorities have not confirmed or denied that rumor.
It happened early Sunday morning in Pitt County, North Carolina.
According to police warrants obtained by The North Carolina Beat, Matthew Warren, of Buffalo, New York, was taken into custody and charged with the murder of 36-year-old Rashawn Gray, known affectionately by friends and online as “Booda Boo.”
Just hours before the alleged murder, both Gray and Warren had taken to Facebook to express their happiness about a new relationship. Around 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Gray posted:
“Found My Person”
Shortly after, at 9:18 p.m., Warren also shared his excitement on his own Facebook page, writing:
“Okay y’all I’m happy finally yes I have a man.”
Authorities say that around 3:30 a.m. Sunday, deputies responded to a call about a suspicious person in the area of Abbott Farm Road and Rountree Road, just outside the town of Ayden in Pitt County.
When deputies arrived, they observed two men exiting a wooded area. Both individuals were immediately detained for questioning. During the preliminary investigation, deputies discovered Rashawn Gray pinned underneath a vehicle nearby.
The Pitt County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the death is being investigated as a homicide, though Gray’s exact cause of death has not yet been released pending autopsy results.
In addition to Warren’s arrest for murder, 24-year-old Bobby Joyner, of Greenville, North Carolina, was also arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Authorities say Joyner failed to call emergency services or law enforcement, and instead assisted Warren after the fatal incident.
Investigators confirmed that Warren and Gray were knew each other, though the exact nature and timeline remain under investigation. Officials say a dispute occurred between the two before the deadly incident.
Warren is currently being held at the Pitt County Detention Center without bond, while Joyner is being held on a $250,000 secured bond.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to contact the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office.
