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AHOSKIE – An Ahoskie man is dead and a member of his family has been charged with first-degree murder.

Willie Ray Bynum Jr., age 33, was arrested early this morning (Saturday) in the Friday afternoon shooting death of 32-year-old Ikeshaun Bynum.

Ahoskie Police Chief Jimmy Asbell said the two men are related.

Willie Ray Bynum Jr. is currently being held without bond in the Hertford County Detention Center. He is scheduled to make his first appearance on July 20 in Hertford County Criminal District Court.

Asbell said his officers responded to a call of suspicious activity shortly after 4 p.m. on Friday in the area of Ahoskie-Cofield Road near its intersection with Willoughby Road.

“They located a vehicle there in a wooded area behind a residence,” Asbell said. “There was a male in the driver’s side front seat of that vehicle who had been fatally shot. That victim was identified as Ikeshaun Bynum.”

Asbell said based off the investigation of his detectives, Willie Ray Bynum Jr. was developed as a suspect and was detained for questioning. Bynum was arrested at 1:18 a.m. today at the Ahoskie Police Department.

Asbell thanked the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina SBI, North Carolina Probation and Parole, Hertford County EMS, and the Ahoskie Fire Department for their assistance.