James Morrison, a 28-year-old African American man from Raeford, North Carolina, was fatally shot in the early hours of January 1, 1995. His killing occurred hours after a mass shooting at the Puppy Creek Family Fun Game Room on Rockfish Road, and took place at the former Zodiac Lounge on Vass Road, described as the final act in the violent spree that began on New Year’s Eve.

Authorities identified 20-year-old Rodrigue Ferguson as the suspect in Morrison’s death and in the earlier slayings that night. Ferguson was charged by the Hoke County Sheriff’s Department with five counts of first-degree murder and one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Other victims named in the earlier shooting included Jamie Hunter, Deborah Hunter and two young men; the Hunters’ 15-year-old daughter, Mary Ann Hunter, survived but was left paralyzed from the chest down.

Ferguson’s trial was scheduled to begin on October 6, 1997, and family members attended pre-trial hearings.