MURFREESBORO – The investigation is ongoing into the shooting death of a Chowan University student nearly two weeks ago.

Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan said that his investigators are still tracking down leads on the case, one that ended in the murder of 21-year-old DaMarco Trevon Duncan. The Temple Hill, Maryland native was gunned down in the early morning hours of Saturday, Dec. 5 at an off-campus party at Sandy Shores Lounge, an establishment located just north of Murfreesboro off US 258.

“We pray that we can solve this case shortly; we’ve got some good leads we’re working on and we’re putting those pieces together,” Vaughan said on Tuesday of this week.

Vaughan offered details about the events that preceded the shooting. He said there were approximately 400 people at the party, a mixture of Chowan University students and locals.

“At some point there were several fights that broke out inside the lounge, but we have no evidence to show that Mr. Duncan was involved in those altercations,” Vaughan said.

The Sheriff added there was another fight that occurred outside the nightclub. Again, it was unclear if Duncan was involved.

Vaughan said the fatal shot was fired outside the nightclub.

“The autopsy showed that Mr. Duncan was shot once in the back,” Vaughan said, adding that the fatal shot came from a handgun.

The Sheriff reconfirmed that Sandy Shores no longer operates as an everyday establishment. He said the man who owns the property rents the lounge out for private parties, as was the case on the weekend of Dec. 5.

was the case

“The club was rented for a party by some Chowan students,” the Sheriff stated.

He said the call came into his office at 1:35 a.m. on Dec. 5 regarding gunfire at the party and someone had been shot. Vaughan said the victim was not at the scene upon the arrival of his deputies.

“We received another call, one referencing that the victim was being transported by a private vehicle to RCH (Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie),” Vaughan stated. “Mr. Duncan was pronounced dead at the hospital.”