Austin Townsend, 21, of Greenville, North Carolina, was found with a gunshot wound to the head on Branch Street in Rocky Mount on August 8, 2022 after a ShotSpotter activation. He was transported to UNC Health Care in Rocky Mount and died of his injuries the following day.

Rocky Mount police identified a vehicle linked to the shooting through a camera system and on August 9, 2022 arrested 32-year-old Shaki Jones. Jones was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon and was being held in the Edgecombe County Jail without bond. The Criminal Investigation Division is continuing the investigation and asking anyone with information to come forward.

If anyone has information about Austin or the shooting on Branch Street, please share what you know with investigators.