Cornell Ward, 31, was fatally shot in the early morning of December 20, 2020, near the 2900 block of Cage Street in Hope Mills, North Carolina. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office responded and opened an investigation into the shooting that took his life.

Investigators identified 18-year-old Jocephus Jones III as a person of interest and released his description as 5 feet 9 inches tall and about 190 pounds while asking the public for help locating him for questioning. No arrest had been made and the case remained open as of this report.

Ward worked as an aspiring chef at several local restaurants, including Applebee’s and AMC Dine-in theaters, and his death affected family, friends, and the community. If anyone has information about the shooting near Cage Street on December 20, 2020, please contact the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers.