On Thursday, September 8, 2016 the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a man shot at 116 Baker Drive in the River Road Estates Mobile Home Park off of River Road in Washington.  Deputies along with Troopers from the North Carolina Highway Patrol responded to the scene, located the victim and immediately began lifesaving efforts.   Emergency medical personnel also responded and continued those lifesaving efforts, but were not able to save the victim.   Joshua Rashawn O’Neal, age 22, was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS personnel.

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Investigators were summoned to the scene to process for physical evidence and interview witnesses.  On Friday, September 9, 2016 Investigators received a tip in the case from a Washington Police Department Detective.  With assistance from the Washington Police Department, Investigators we able to gather sufficient evidence to locate and charge Jeffery Lamar Sawyer, age 24 of Plymouth, with one count each of Murder, First Degree Burglary and Attempted Robbery with a Dangerous weapon.    Sawyer is currently being held without bond in the Beaufort County Detention Center.

At the time of his arrest Sawyer was wanted by the Washington Police Department for one count each of Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, for an incident that occurred on September 3, 2016 in the city limit of Washington.  More arrests are expected in the case.

Jeffery Lamar Sawyer