ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help locating a man they believe is responsible for a shooting Saturday night.
According to a press release issued Sunday afternoon, deputies and officers from the Rockingham Police Department were dispatched Saturday, Feb. 5, to a call about a gunshot victim in the Emergency Department of FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital-Richmond.
Officers reportedly learned that the shooting took place in a gravel parking lot on Church Street in East Rockingham. Because of the location, the sheriff’s office took over the investigation.
The victim was identified as 18-year-old Julius Tyrone Leak of Rockingham. No details were given on his condition.
Investigators say the suspect is 23-year-old Thomas Owen White, who is listed as being homeless. White is believed to be driving a black 1993 Ford F-150. Deputies have obtained warrants for his arrest.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is encouraged to call 911 or Richmond County Crime Stoppers at 910-997-5454.
Online records show White has no pending charges, however, he is currently on probation with a 12-month suspended sentence.
White was convicted on April 15, 2021 of obtaining property by false pretenses and assault on an officer or state employee, according to records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction.
He was previously convicted in 2017 on two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses and one count of felony breaking and entering.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
