MERRY HILL – Three men are in custody without bond following an early-morning drive-by shooting in Bertie County that left a Merry Hill home riddled with bullets but caused no injuries, according to the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 14, when deputies responded to a residence on NC Highway 45 after reports that the home had been struck by “continuous gunfire.” Upon arrival, deputies recovered 37 spent shell casings from the area surrounding the residence.
No one inside the home was injured during the shooting.
Investigators spent the following day gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and developing leads. Wednesday, detectives had presented their findings to a magistrate, who issued arrest warrants based on the evidence collected.
That same day, deputies arrested Molique Dedmand, 19, of Aulander, and Ty Nelson Dorsey Lee, 20, of Kelford, without incident. Dedmand faces six counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting into an occupied dwelling, while Lee is charged as an accessory after the fact.
Thursday, investigators arrested a third suspect, Kiyuntae Zyleek Allen, 19, also of Aulander. Allen faces the same charges as Dedmand—six counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting into an occupied dwelling.
All three suspects are being held without bond at the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail.
Sheriff’s officials said the investigation remains active, and additional charges are possible as evidence is reviewed. Authorities did not release details about a potential motive or how the suspects are connected to the residence.
The Bertie County Sheriff’s Office thanked the community for providing information that helped lead to the arrests.