ROCKINGHAM — A Moore County man is wanted for murder in a fatal shooting in Ellerbe late last week.
Investigators with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office have obtained arrest warrants for 31-year-old Patrice Hoza Taylor Jr. of Aberdeen in the shooting death of 21-year-old Nikolas Jurel Cromer of Rockingham.
According to a press release issued Tuesday morning, deputies were dispatched to the area of Sallie Goins Hill Road in Ellerbe around 3:03 p.m. Friday, March 3 “in reference to someone hearing a male yelling.”
The first deputy on scene reportedly found Cromer lying on the porch of a home yelling for help. Cromer reportedly told the deputy that he’d been shot.
The deputy reportedly notified the Richmond County 911 Center to send EMS and other deputies who arrived on scene administered CPR to Cromer while waiting for EMS.
Cromer was transported by EMS and later airlifted to a trauma center, where he died from his injuries, according to RCSO.
Investigators identified Taylor, aka “Meecy,” as the suspect. He is described as a black male, around 5 feet, six inches tall, weighing about 165 pounds, with tattoos covering both arms and his neck area, according to RCSO.
Investigators say Taylor is to be considered armed and dangerous and is known to frequent Richmond and Cumberland counties.
Online court records show Taylor has multiple pending charges in Moore and Cumberland counties including possession of a firearm by a felon, breaking and entering to terrorize or injure, larceny and cocaine possession.
His prior convictions include drug possession and discharging a firearm into an occupied property.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Taylor or other details of the case is encouraged to call the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 910-895-3232, Richmond County Crime Stoppers at 910-997-5454 or by using the P3 Tips App.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Note: Correction made to time of call. 10:49 a.m. 3-7-23
