On April 6, 2023, 33-year-old Horace Lassiter Jr. was fatally shot outside his home on Lee Street in Lewiston Woodville, North Carolina. Deputies from the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office arrived about 9:44 p.m. after a report; Lassiter had multiple gunshot wounds, was given immediate medical attention, and was pronounced dead at the scene. According to authorities, he had been answering a knock at his door when he was attacked.

Lassiter’s killing came amid a short span of similar violence in the county. Two days earlier, 68-year-old Ricky Gilliam was shot and killed at his residence after answering a knock, and investigators have noted the similarities as they examine potential connections. As of October 2024 the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation were actively investigating; no arrests or suspects have been publicly identified. The sheriff appealed to the public for help in bringing those responsible to justice.

If anyone knew Horace Lassiter Jr., witnessed activity near Lee Street on April 6, 2023, or has information that could assist investigators, please contact the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office.