CLAYTON — The American Legion of Clayton is rethinking how it rents out its building on U.S. 70, after a shooting on New Year’s Day left one dead and two hospitalized after a company party held at the space.
“It’s gonna change everything,” said Ken Parker, who is in charge of events held at the building where the shooting took place on Old U.S. 70.
Daniel Anthony Laboy Jr., 19, of Clayton, was shot at about 2 a.m. on January 1 outside the American Legion Building.
Johnston County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested two suspects they believe were involved in the violence that erupted at the party.
Monteese Sharick Ray, 35, of Ranch Road, Clayton, has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bail.
Marcellus Carlyle Sinclair, 29, also of Ranch Road, Clayton, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder in the shooting of Jimmy Rashawn Raiford, 23, of Smithfield and Marcus Dominque Faison, 20, of Four Oaks. Bail for Sinclair was set at $9 million.
Both men are being held in the Johnston County jail.
Following the Tuesday morning shooting, Laboy was taken by friends to Johnston Medical Center in Clayton where he was pronounced dead. Rescue workers called to the scene transported one of the injured men to WakeMed in Raleigh. The other victim was taken by friends to Johnston Medical Center in Clayton. They suffered non life-threatening wounds, according to Johnston County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Tammy Amaon.
According to Parker, the adjutant at American Legion Post 71, the space had been rented by Erika McCalvin. He said it was being used for a company party, though he was not sure which company was using it. He said he was told the shooters were not invited to the party and were not allowed in.
Reached at home Thursday night, McCalvin declined to discuss what happened.
“We aren’t talking to anybody but the police,” McCalvin said.
A violent past
There have been two shootings previously at the space. The weekend’s murder is the first death at the building. And, the members of the Legion are wary of holding future events at the space.
Events already booked at the building in January, however, will still be allowed to take place, so the Legion can kee its commitments to the people renting it. But rentals will likely stop next month, or at least function very differently, Parker said.
Alcohol Law Enforcement officers told Parker that someone from the Legion is supposed to be on site at all times during an event there. Parker said he was unaware of the requirement before Tuesday’s shooting. In the future, that would mean people renting the space would have to pay an agent to stay there the whole time. People interested in renting it would also have to pay for a uniformed security officer from the Sheriff’s Office.
“It will raise the rent quite a bit,” said Parker. Before the shooting, the space rented at $350 per night.
Detectives have not determined a motive in the shootings, but their investigation is ongoing.
Laboy, the shooting victim who died, has had his own run-ins with the law.
Laboy was charged with the shooting in August of another teenager. Raheem Foye, 17, was shot in the face at the Blazing Saddle Club. Laboy was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. At the time, Laboy was a senior at Clayton High School.
Staff Writer Martha Quillin contributed to this story.
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