Man identified in early-morning homicide

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police say a body of a deceased male was found early this morning off Westchester Road.

A WPD spokeswoman said the body of Rashaun Akeem McKoy, 30, was found in the 100-block of the street around 3 a.m. They said officers were in the area after an earlier report of shots fired. McKoy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Some neighbors say they heard the gunshots, but Helen Marshall said she heard by word of mouth. She said she could not believe it happened in this neighborhood.

“We are a quiet neighborhood,” Marhsall said.

Then, she could not believe who police say was killed.

“He went to Hoggard with my son,” Marshall said. “I knew his mother.”

Marshall said they both run home daycares together.

“So I picked up the phone and called her and it was her son, so that was devastating,” Marshall said.

She said she knows how difficult this is for her, because she lost her son, Robert Marshall, in a shooting eight years ago.

“That’s the worst feeling for a mother to have to go through,” Marshall said. “I mean why? Why did you have to take his life?”

She said she hopes the family gets justice, but said the people committing these crimes do not get it.

“They don’t realize what they do to families or their families,” Marshall said. “Can you imagine what that does to a mother? My child is going to jail for murdering someone.”

She said she hopes justice is served and she hopes her road remains a quiet Wilmington neighborhood.

“I mean with all the shootings and craziness that’s going on,” Marshall said.

WPD said in a tweet they believe the incident is drug-related not gang-related.

The investigation continues.