Shwanica Small, 37, of Spring Hope, North Carolina, was killed on the night of November 11, 2014, in Rocky Mount. Officers responded about 10:30 p.m. to 1222 Liberty Street and found Small deceased and a 21-year-old man from Rocky Mount, Dante Johnson, wounded with non-life-threatening injuries. Johnson received treatment at UNC Nash Hospital and was released.

A 38-year-old Rocky Mount man, Christopher Lee Coppedge, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and held without bond in the Nash County jail. Authorities have not released further details about motive or the circumstances that led to the arrest, and the investigation remains open.

Small’s death has profoundly affected her community. If anyone has information about what happened that night, please contact the Rocky Mount Police Department.