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AHOSKIE – The Ahoskie Police Department is reporting an incident that occurred this afternoon (Sunday) in a parking lot behind a Memorial Drive business is a suicide.

In a press release, Ahoskie Police Chief Jimmy Asbell said that at approximately 2 pm, the Ahoskie Police responded to a call that law enforcement was needed behind the Dollar Tree Store.

Upon arrival, Ahoskie Police officers found Shelby Rakim Jones, age 35, from Whaleyville, VA, in his vehicle parked behind the Dollar Tree. When officers approached the car, they found that Jones was deceased with a handgun in his hand.

“Our investigation indicates that Jones died today as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest,” Asbell stated in the news release. “Evidence collected at the scene, to include the handgun, indicated that the manner of death was suicide.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jones family at this time,” Asbell added.

When asked if Jones had any connection to Ahoskie, Asbell said, “none that we can determine at this time.”