More than a month after a baby was shot and killed in New Bern, police are still working to identify the shooter – with the help of state and federal investigators.
Officers found 22-year-old Nathan Sheptock and one-year-old Nia’ Loni Sheptock shot and injured just before 10:00 p.m. on Lagrange Street on Independence Day. Investigators believe they were traveling in a car on Main Street when they were shot.
The man was treated and released from CarolinaEast Medical Center and the baby girl was transferred to ECU Health Medical Center.
Officials at the hospital said the one-year-old died from her injuries the following day.
New Bern Police Chief Patrick Gallagher said they have spent the past month working diligently to solve the case.
“We have over 50 interviews conducted, 25 search warrants executed, over 400 items of evidence collected, over 800 investigative hours dedicated to this investigation and approximately 135 homes that were canvassed, or attempted to be canvassed, on multiple days. By multiple agencies, to include the FBI and Craven County Sheriff's Office and members of the New Bern Police Department," he said.
Previous coverage: Baby shot in New Bern has died, police working to identify shooter
Gallagher added that some first responders were traumatized by the shooting.
“Members of the New Bern Police Department found this child in critical condition. We're not doctors, we’re first responders. And officers dealing with a mortal wound on a child performed heroic CPR to try to save that child's life. That should not be minimized," he said. "And emotional impact that has on those officers or something that we're also monitoring.”
Gallagher added that someone, somewhere, has the information they need to make an arrest and he urged that person to come forward. A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
