On May 7, 2018 the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a break-in at a home on Sunnyside Drive in Washington. The homeowner reported someone had forcibly entered her home while she was away and took several personal items, including jewelry, electronic devices, video games and money. Based on physical evidence at the scene Investigators believed the break-in was committed by Juveniles. Ten days later the Sheriff’s Office received a second report of a home break-in on the same street. During the second break-in 2 hand guns, electronic devices, jewelry and money were stolen. Deputy Jim Mills who responded to the second break-in noticed and made contact with a 14 yr. old juvenile in the neighborhood. Mills made note of the shoes worn by the juvenile and located the same footprint at the crime scene when it was processed.
On May 18, 2018 Sheriff’s Investigators took over the case which led them to Washington High School. While continuing their investigation by conducting interviews of potential suspects, a School Resource Officer located a loaded stolen handgun from the second break-in in a student’s backpack. After that discovery, an unnamed 14 yr old, an unnamed 15 yr old and James Raheem Corprew age 16
of Washington were all immediately taken into custody. Corprew and the unnamed 15 yr old were both charged with Felony Possession a Gun on Campus. The unnamed 14 yr old was charged with 2 counts of Felony Breaking and Entering, 2 counts of Felony Larceny After Breaking and Entering and 1 count of Larceny of a Firearm. The unnamed juveniles are currently being held in the Pitt Juvenile Detention Center. Corprew was taking before a Beaufort County Magistrate and ordered held on a $15,000.00 secured bond.
The investigation is continuing as Investigators continued to follow leads in an effort to recover more of the stolen property.
