John Palmer, a 28-year-old Black man and former Cadet Sergeant in the Kinston Department of Public Safety Explorer Post, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Kinston, North Carolina, on July 25, 2022. He was remembered by the program as one of the nicest kids and well liked by members of both the fire and police divisions.

In the early morning a series of related shootings unfolded across the city. Around 4:20 a.m. multiple rounds were fired into a vehicle near Adkin Street and East Bright Street; the 71-year-old driver was unharmed. At about 4:40 a.m. officers found Palmer deceased from a gunshot wound on the 100 block of Airport Road. Around 5:45 a.m. officers discovered 17-year-old Isaiah Taylor shot multiple times on Hyman Avenue. Investigators later determined the three incidents were connected.

Authorities arrested Ervin Lee Waters Jr. in Greenville and charged him with Palmer’s murder, the first-degree murder of Isaiah Taylor, and the attempted first-degree murder of the 71-year-old woman. Two other men, Samuel Tiveon Roberts and Calvin Suggs, were charged with aiding and abetting murder and aiding and abetting attempted murder; Suggs was given a $2 million bond. The Kinston Department of Fire and Rescue raised money to support Palmer’s family.

If anyone knew John Palmer or has information about the shootings, please come forward.