ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — Family members of victims in a double homicide that happened on Nov. 11, 2021, off Highway 74 in Rockingham said they believe more people are involved and need to be arrested.
[ALSO READ: Rockingham man now facing death penalty in 15-year-old’s murder]
The family of Malik Ellerbe would have celebrated his 18th birthday Tuesday, but instead they released balloons at his gravesite.
“It’s real tough,” said Melinda Ellerbe, Malik’s mother. “I been trying all day long praying and trying to keep myself together but it’s not working.”
DeMarion Davis was 17 when he was also shot and killed at the car wash.
“DeMarion wanted to go to school to be a mechanical engineer,” said Tamikka Hough, DeMarion’s mother. “He was a senior in high school looking to graduate this year.”
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The families held a rally led by civil rights activist The Rev. John Barnette Tuesday across the street from the car wash.
Rockingham Police Chief George Gillenwater said on the afternoon of the murders, one of the people who was detained and questioned is the son of a law enforcement officer.
He said that officer came to the scene to see his son, who has not been arrested.
“So, we think there was some favoritism being given for the individual that was there,” said Barnette, THUG Ministries.
Ellerbe said that she does not have confidence in how the investigation is being handled.
“We have talked to them about that,” Ellerbe said. “They said it was turned over to the SBI, but we have not yet talked to anybody from the SBI.”
The Rockingham police chief said that the officer in question is not a police officer or sheriff’s deputy, but a school resource officer employed by the school district.
Part of Tuesday’s rally was to put pressure on the district attorney to follow the evidence.
“This is not a speeding ticket,” Barnette said. “This is not a drug deal gone bad. These are two young, innocent men, who lost their lives shot brutally.”
Gillenwater said the SBI was called to investigate to avoid anything that would compromise the investigation after it was known the officer and son were at the scene.
One person is in custody in connection with the crime.
(Watch the video below: Police: Remains discovered in Rockingham)
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