Three suspects arrested, charged with Wednesday shooting

Three men suspected of being involved in last week's shooting of an 18-year-old Kinston man are being held under a $75,000 bond in Lenoir County Jail.

Leslie Conner Jr. turned himself in to police at noon today. Conner is believed to be one of three men involved in the April 6 shooting of Marquez Williams, 18. Williams was shot in the abdomen and remains in Pitt Memorial Hospital. His condition remains critical.

Anthony Holloway, 22, is believed to have been the man who shot Williams. He and Tony Pernell Rouse, 18, were picked up by police and Lenoir County Sheriff's deputies at 2 p.m. today. The two were found in a house at 1127 Hartsfield Lane in the county.

Kinston Public Safety Department Comdr. Greg Thompson said neither Holloway nor Rouse resisted arrest.

The men are charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to injure or kill. Thompson said if Williams dies, the suspects will be charged with murder.

Investigators have not recovered weapons used in the shooting and still do not know any possible motive, Thompson said. It is also unclear whether the shooting was gang-related.

Williams was attacked about 8:20 p.m. April 5 while he was at the corner of Bright and McDaniels streets. Police initially said witnesses were uncooperative, but later received information from other witnesses who implicated Rouse and Conner.

Rouse, known as Ba Ba, had been living at 904 E. Bright St. Conner, known as Snowman, lived at 1203 E. Shine St. Neither men have adult criminal records.

Holloway has an extensive record dating back to February 2001, according to N.C. Department of Corrections records. He has been convicted of disorderly conduct, assault, breaking and entering and five counts of robbery. He was last released from prison in June 2005.