By Nicole Bowman-Layton

PLYMOUTH — Two men arrested nearly five months after a fatal shooting on Latham Avenue face four felony charges each, with newly available court records providing additional details about the shooting that killed one man and injured another man and an infant.

Darris Lee Barnes Jr., 18, and G’Vonta Shakur Riddick, 19, are each charged with murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and discharging a firearm into occupied property in connection with the April 2 shooting.

Special agents with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation’s Northeastern District arrested Barnes and Riddick on Monday, Aug. 24. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the arrests.

Barnes was taken into custody in Bertie County, while Riddick was taken into custody in Plymouth, according to Chad Flowers, SBI public information director, who provided additional information about the arrests Tuesday.

The SBI identified Riddick as “Gvonta Shakur Riddick” in its announcement of the arrests. Washington County court records identify him as G’Vonta Shakur Riddick.

The arrests follow an investigation that began around 1:30 a.m. April 2, 2026, when Plymouth police responded to a shooting at 110 Latham Ave.

Devonelle Leon Brimage, 36, and Avione Linquad Webb, then 38, were shot while inside a vehicle. Brimage died at the scene. Webb was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center and later transferred to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville for additional treatment. The SBI said Monday that Webb was later released from the hospital.

An 8-month-old infant was also inside the vehicle and was injured in the shooting. Plymouth police said shortly after the shooting that the child’s injuries were non-life-threatening and that the infant was treated and released.

Indictments

Court records provide additional information about what prosecutors allege happened that night.

Washington County grand juries returned indictments against Barnes and Riddick on Aug. 17. The indictments charge each man with murder in Brimage’s death and allege that each killed Brimage “of malice aforethought.”

Both defendants also face separate assault charges involving Webb and the infant.

The indictments charge Barnes and Riddick with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury against Webb. The court documents allege the assaults involved a .300 Blackout rifle and a .40-caliber firearm.

Each man faces a second charge of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury involving the infant. The indictments make the same allegation regarding the firearms.

The child’s name is included in the court records but is being withheld by the Albemarle Observer because the child is a minor and an alleged victim.

Barnes and Riddick are also each charged with discharging a firearm into occupied property.

Those indictments allege that a .300 Blackout rifle and .40-caliber firearm were discharged into a silver Nissan at 110 Latham Ave. while Brimage, Webb and the infant were inside. The indictments state that the shooting resulted in serious bodily injury to Webb.

The allegations provide more information about the shooting than authorities had publicly released immediately following Brimage’s death. Authorities have not publicly disclosed what they believe led to the shooting or described what evidence ultimately led investigators to Barnes and Riddick.

SBI Special Agent Tyler Gohn is listed as a witness on the indictments.

Investigation

Plymouth police said following the April shooting that officers heard multiple gunshots as Washington County Communications received several 911 calls reporting the incident.

Officers arriving at the Latham Avenue residence found Brimage unresponsive inside a vehicle parked in the driveway. Webb was found wounded in the rear seat.

Washington County EMS attempted life-saving measures on Brimage, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The SBI joined the investigation at the request of the Plymouth Police Department. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office also assisted investigators, while the Martin County Sheriff’s Office assisted during the initial response.

Authorities had not publicly identified suspects in the shooting before Monday’s announcement.

The SBI initially announced that Barnes and Riddick were charged with first-degree murder and were being held without bond pending their first appearances Tuesday in Washington County District Court.

Court records for Barnes show that following his arrest, his release was not authorized and he was committed to the Washington County Detention Facility pending a judge setting conditions of pretrial release. The paperwork also lists a Sept. 2 court date at 9:30 a.m. in Washington County Superior Court.

Neither the SBI announcement nor the indictments reviewed by the Observer explain what investigators believe led to the shooting or describe what relationship, if any, Barnes and Riddick had with Brimage, Webb or the infant.

The charges against Barnes and Riddick are allegations. Both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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Editor’s note: This story was updated at 3:41 p.m. Aug. 25, 2026, with information found in court records.