Henderson police have made an arrest in the case of a Maple Street man slain at home in early March — the housemate who police say has obstructed their investigation into the death of Lajuan Wilkins.
JoeNell Macon, 38, is in the Vance County Jail in lieu of $40,000 bond after Detective J.N Ragland arrested him Friday on a charge of obstruction of justice, according to a news release Tuesday from Police Chief Glen Allen.
Macon now lives in the 1000 block of Harriett Street, but he was living at 1603 Maple St. on March 8, the night someone entered the house, fatally shot Wilkins, 22, and wounded Macon in the leg shortly before 9:30.
According to previous police statements, Macon told investigators that two black men entered the house and demanded money or drugs, then shot Wilkins and him. Now police think Macon was lying to them.
“Information available tends to indicate that the police investigation has been hampered thus far as a result of Macon’s deceit and false information he has provided to investigators,” Allen news release reads.
Police say Macon falsely identified one Henderson man as one of his March assailants, and that man was jailed until investigators determined that he had a solid alibi and couldn’t have been involved in the shooting.
Macon also is suspected of altering the crime scene and of phoning other people after the shooting before he called 911.
Aside from the obstruction case, Macon faces charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possessing stolen goods because Ragland’s investigation turned up an SKS 7.62mm rifle that was stolen from Hayes Firearms on South Garnett Street.
Macon’s felony record appears to be limited to a conviction for possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance in Vance County in 1994. He also has convictions for assault on a public official, assault on a female, simple assault/affray, driving while intoxicated and driving while license revoked.
Magistrate Betty Smith set Macon’s bond last week at $40,000 secured, pending a court appearance next Monday.
Meanwhile, Ragland continues working on the Wilkins slaying.
A reward of up to $7,000 is available for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Wilkins’ killers: $1,000 from Crimestoppers, an additional $1,000 from the Henderson Police Department and $5,000 from Gov. Mike Easley’s office.
“The Henderson Police Department believes that there are people that may have information in this case that would be useful to investigators,” the police press release says. “The Henderson Police Department and the SBI need assistance from the public in solving this case.”
People can phone tips to the Police Department at 438-4141, Crimestoppers at 492-1925 or the State Bureau of Investigation at (919) 571-4850.