Wallace teen faces first degree murder charge

WALLACE — A juvenile charged with the Dec. 15 murder of Anthony Deshaun Murray is now facing first degree murder charges as an adult. Jamel Xavier Keith, who was 17 at the time the murder was committed, was transferred from a juvenile facility to Duplin County Jail on Monday, July 22, following his 18th birthday, Duplin County Sheriff Stratton Stokes said. 

The Wallace Police Department responded to a shots fired call at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 15, 2023. When they arrived at the residence at 125 Poplar St., officers found a male with an apparent gunshot wound, as well as a shell casing on the floor. Murray was later pronounced deceased by EMS personnel. 

Police arrested Keith on Jan. 26 and charged him with murder. He was placed into custody by the Department of Juvenile Justice. 

“During the arrest process, the juvenile temporarily escaped from custody,” a statement from Wallace PD on Jan. 26 read. “After a brief search, the juvenile was located and taken into custody without further incident.”  

The statement continued, “The investigative unit at Wallace PD has done a tremendous job building this case. We would like to thank the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for their assistance with the search and arrest of the juvenile.”