On February 3, 2024, at approximately 2:45 am, members of the Kinston Police Department were called to Jay’s Place, 110 W. Blount St. Kinston, N.C., to assist the staff with crowd control as a party was ending. Within minutes of officers arriving, a confrontation between patrons took place, and officers heard multiple shots being fired. The suspect fled the area and was quickly identified as Dontrieves Hooker, 44, of LaGrange. It was determined that Hooker and several unknown females were involved in a verbal confrontation when Hooker brandished a firearm and discharged two rounds at the female. The shots missed the female and struck a nearby residence that was occupied.  

Warrants were obtained for Hooker, and the following evening, he surrendered to law enforcement. Hooker was charged with Discharging a Weapon into Occupied Property, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Going Armed to the Terror of the Public, and Littering. He was placed in the Lenoir County Jail under a secured bond. 

The Kinston Police Department makes it a priority to investigate all crimes perpetrated in our city. We will investigate such cases without compromise for crime and continue to seek assistance from the community we proudly serve.  If anyone has information about this incident, please call the Kinston Police Department’s Tips Line at 252-939-4020, Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444, or through the Tip411 App that is available on both Apple and Android devices.  Calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential and anonymous, and the caller may be eligible for a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest.