Rally held for Brunswick County man killed as search for suspected killer continues

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It has been more than 4 months since 33-year-old Jaquin Bethea Jr. was shot and killed.

On Monday, Bethea’s family, joined by members of the Southeast Chapter of the National Black Leadership Caucus, held a rally at the 1898 Memorial in his memory, calling for his suspected killer to be caught.

Bethea was found dead in a house on Ridge Road in Supply back on August 6th.

The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office originally stated someone was in custody in connection to Bethea’s death, but has since said a suspect, identified as 30-year-old Bryan Goodwin, is still at large.

According to his family, Bethea and Goodwin had known each other for years.

Bethea’s girlfriend, Brittany McClure said she and the rest of Bethea’s loved ones are scared and frustrated that Goodwin hasn’t been caught yet.

“Nerve-racking, it’s scary,” McClure said. “Cause he knows all of us, he knows where we live, where everyone else lives, he know where our kids go to school. he just, we know him so its nerve-racking to know that he’s just on the loose after he’s tooking something so special to us.”

Sonya Patrick is the chair of the Southeast Region of the National Black Leadership Caucus.

She said Bethea would be missed.

“He was a very contribute to the community, he was a very good son, he was advocating for, you know trying to bring peace in a situation and he ended up being the victim,” Patrick said.

During the rally, Bethea’s family announced they’re offered a reward of $2500 for any information that leads to Goodwin’s arrest.

WWAY reached out to the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office for an update on the search for Goodwin but did not hear back.