A house party on Highway 32 North in Roper turned deadly in the early hours of July 7, 2024. Deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department arrived at 12256 Highway 32 North around 4:00 AM and found multiple people with gunshot wounds. Twenty-seven-year-old Verrick Kadeem Parks, a Chowan County resident known as Punni, died at the scene despite life-saving efforts.

Three others were wounded: Chowan County residents Daniel Hurdle and Tyreek Welch each suffered gunshot wounds to the foot, and Hurdle was also shot in the arm. Jaquori Wilson of Bertie County sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was reported in critical condition. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are handling the investigation; no arrests or suspects had been announced.

Parks’ family held a funeral and his mother, Trina Parks, started a GoFundMe to cover funeral costs and support his four children. Community members have been urged to share any information with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office or the North Carolina SBI. If anyone was at the party or has relevant information, please come forward.