ST. PAULS, NC (WBTW) – A 17-year-old was in court Tuesday morning after reportedly shooting and killing another teen last week.
St. Pauls Police Chief Thomas Hagens says officers were called to 902 W. Broad Street, between Burger King and the BP gas station, Tuesday, Nov. 28. Officers discovered 17-year-old Zachary Ray Meares had been shot. Meares died from his injuries.
The St. Pauls Police Department worked with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to arrest Jason Oneil Bass, 17. Bass was charged with voluntary manslaughter on Monday in the shooting death of Meares. The suspected killer was released from jail on a $20,000 bond.
The Mears family was still to shaken to talk on camera but they say the voluntary manslaughter charge isn’t enough.
Mears’ sister, Candace Jackson created a GoFundMe page that says in part:
“Zachary was murdered with an illegal gun by a young adult that didn’t know him, nor did Zach know the murderer. A senseless crime of gun violence. A crime that shouldn’t have happened.”
Mears’ brother, John Mears took to Facebook to say, “Justice is having these criminals behind bars for taking an innocent life all over a cell phone.”
Police still haven’t said anything about the circumstances of the shooting.
News13 reached to the District Attorney Luther Johnson Britt, III for information about the charge but did not hear back.
Bass’ next court appearance will be February 1st.