A deadly shooting on January 21, 2023, in the Marketplace Shopping Center parking lot on South Glenburnie Road in New Bern left two men dead and a third wounded. Among the deceased was 34-year-old Paul Anthony Edwards Jr. of Vanceboro, who received four .223 caliber gunshot wounds, including a fatal torso wound. Mishawn Akeem Jackson, 29, of New Bern, was also killed; he had a single gunshot wound to the back of the head that investigators say indicated he may have been fleeing. Clonzie Lee Nealy Jr., 34, of New Bern, was injured and hospitalized in stable condition and later arrested on January 30, 2023, and charged with two counts of murder following a virtual court appearance.

The shooting reportedly began after Edwards and Jackson left the 30 Sumn Ultra Lounge and argued with Nealy. Investigators recovered 26 rifle-type shell casings and two 9mm casings at the scene, indicating multiple firearms were used. Edwards was an electrician and a member of Queen Chapel Free Will Baptist Church; he is survived by his parents, two daughters, and a sister.

If anyone witnessed the altercation in the parking lot or has information about the incident, please share what is known.