ROCKINGHAM — A Moore County man wanted for an East Rockingham homicide is behind bars.
Richmond County Jail records show that 24-year-old Jaleel Jabar Liles was booked on an open count of murder Tuesday at 2:32 p.m. He is being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court March 3.
Liles is accused in the shooting death of 36-year-old Jonathan “Jon Jon” Chavis.
Deputies responded to a call around 8:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11 of a man who was believed to have been struck by a vehicle at the corner of Mill Road and South Street, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
The first patrol deputy to arrive on scene reportedly found Chavis unresponsive. While attempting to administer first aid to Chavis, investigators say the deputy found injuries that were “inconsistent” with being hit by a vehicle. However, no other details were given about his injuries in the original press release.
FirstHealth EMS later arrived and pronounced Chavis dead at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Mark Gulledge identified Liles as a suspect on Feb. 17.
Liles, of Eagle Springs, has reportedly been staying in the East Rockingham area for several weeks prior to the shooting.
Records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction show Liles also goes by “Bam Bam” and “Smoke.”
Liles is listed as a probation absconder.
He received an 18-month suspended sentence in October 2021 when convicted of receiving a stolen vehicle and resisting an officer in Hoke County.
Liles was first convicted in 2015 on two counts of misdemeanor larceny and felony breaking and entering in Richmond County, as well as misdemeanor breaking and entering and possessing stolen goods in Guilford County, records show.
His probation on those convictions was revoked later in the year when he was convicted of attempted breaking and entering vehicles.
In 2016, Liles was convicted of possessing a controlled substance and a violation of having a controlled substance in a penal institution in Richmond County.
Records show he was convicted:
- 2017 – misdemeanor larceny, larceny of a motor vehicle and speeding to elude arrest in Scotland County.
- 2018 – felony breaking and entering and larceny of a motor vehicle in Richmond County
- 2019 – receiving a stolen vehicle, hit and run, resisting an officer in Scotland County
State records show Liles has spent roughly three years and four months behind bars in the past six years.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
