Do you know who murdered Ray Anthony Suggs? Ray Anthony Suggs, a 35-year-old African-American man, was a beloved father, son, and brother living in Kinston, North Carolina. Known to his family and friends, he was a father to eight children: daughters Quijalett Vaughn, Desirae Vaughn, Naisha Mosley, and Alexis McDowell, and sons Antaune Gardner, Ray Anthony Suggs, Jr., Shamell Suggs, and Zachariah Suggs. He was also a grandfather to one grandchild. Ray’s family was a significant part of his life; he is survived by his mother, Ethel Sutton, his stepfather, Emanuel Sutton, and several sisters and brothers, including Lakesah Newbern, Monique Williams, Oberry Newbern Suggs, Jr., Tyrone Newbern, Larry Newbern, and Donald Ray Williams.
The early morning hours of Monday, July 14, 2008, brought a sudden and violent end to Ray’s life. At approximately 2:30 a.m., he was outside in the yard of his home at 710 Williams Street with a female friend.
The two were talking near the back porch when they were ambushed by two unknown men armed with handguns. The assailants ordered both Ray and his friend to lie on the ground and demanded money. After going through Ray's pockets and taking a small amount of cash, one of the robbers reportedly asked, "Is this all you got?"
Immediately after the question, one of the men shot Ray in the back of the head. The two suspects then fled the area on foot, disappearing into the night. Police and emergency services were called to the scene, but it was too late. Ray Anthony Suggs was pronounced dead in his own yard. The killing was a shocking act of violence that left a family devastated and a community searching for answers. His death was the fourth homicide in Kinston that year, a significant increase from the single murder the city had recorded in all of 2007.
The Kinston Department of Public Safety, now the Kinston Police Department, launched an immediate investigation, canvassing the neighborhood and interviewing witnesses. The female friend who was with Ray during the attack was able to provide descriptions of the assailants. One suspect was described as a Black male wearing a black shirt and black pants, while the other was a Black male wearing a white shirt and dark-colored pants. Based on the witness's account, authorities were able to create and release a composite sketch of one of the suspects, hoping someone in the public would recognize him.
Despite the initial leads and the release of the sketch, the investigation has not led to any arrests. Over the years, the case has grown cold. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) has since included Ray's murder in its list of unsolved homicides, and the Kinston Police Department also lists the case as open and unsolved. Investigators have expressed their belief that with two people involved in the crime, it is likely that someone in the community has information that could finally lead to a breakthrough.
More than a decade has passed, and Ray Suggs's family still waits for justice. His funeral was held on July 20, 2008, at St. John F.W.B. Church, and he was laid to rest in Lawson Estates. His mother, Ethel Sutton, later wrote a poem titled "We Cannot Look Back," expressing the pain of her loss and her struggle to move forward. As of February 2010, the case remained active but without significant progress. Authorities continue to ask for the public’s help. Anyone with information about the murder of Ray Anthony Suggs is urged to contact the Kinston Department of Public Safety at (252) 939-3160 or the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation at (919) 582-TIPS. 
