The age of the victim and the accused is simply sad. I feel for Joshua’s family and friends fo the loss of such a promising life. This was a case of a “drug deal gone bad” however. While that doesn’t mean I believe that a life should ever be lost simply because drugs are involved and it’s certainly not any excuse - it’s certainly a reminder to teach our young ppl to make better decisions and not glorify these lifestyles the way movies/music/social media does. If you choose to sell drugs - you can find yourself in dangerous situations. I wish this had not turned out the way it did. Terrible loss.

Joshua Demetrius Crooks Jr was an 18-year-old Black man who died on February 23, 2022, after violence broke out in the 2600 block of Lindsay Road near Little Rock Drive in Raeford, North Carolina. Deputies found him dead at the scene; an 18-year-old woman was also shot and seriously injured and taken for treatment. Crooks was born in Hinesville, Georgia, later lived in Spring Lake, graduated from Pine Forest High School with honors, and participated in Future Business Leaders of America. He was remembered as an ambitious young entrepreneur.

The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office investigated the killing. Public reports identify multiple people later charged in connection with the same shooting. Nyana Finesse Lilly, 18 at the time, was charged with first-degree murder. Another suspect, Antwon Jamal Davis of Fayetteville, was arrested in St. Albans, West Virginia and said to be wanted in Hoke County on first-degree murder and related robbery, conspiracy, and assault charges.

The investigation remained active and expanded as authorities publicly linked multiple people to the killing and the wounding of the surviving victim. If anyone knew Joshua, the circumstances that night, or has information that could help, please share what is known.