Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Updated on Friday, Jan. 14

GARYSBURG – The Northampton County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in a murder investigation.

Derek Antoine Scott, age 39 of Garysburg, was shot inside a residence on Dec. 30.

In reference to a shooting, Northampton Sheriff’s deputies arrived shortly before midnight at a residence located on NC Highway 46 just outside the town limits of Garysburg. Upon arrival, officers discovered that Scott had been shot in the upper body. He later succumbed to his injuries.

NCSO Captain Patrick Jacobs told the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald that the motive behind the shooting is unknown at this time.

“It appears that Derek Scott was an innocent bystander and not in anyway an intended target,” Jacobs said. “Unknown at this time why this happened or why this residence was targeted.”

Jacobs said this is an ongoing homicide investigation and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office at 252-534-2611 or the Crime Stoppers line at 252-534-1110.

The North Carolina SBI is assisting the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.

Funeral services for Scott are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15 at T. L. Faison’s Funeral Care in Seaboard.