Four held in man's shooting death; Kannapolis victim had history of drug-related crimes

Rivens

Rice

Little

Kirkpatrick

By Jessie Burchette

jburchette@salisburypost.com

KANNAPOLIS — A 40-year-old man who was shot to death outside an apartment complex Tuesday night had a long history of drug-related charges and convictions.

Four men have been charged with murder in the death of James Lazarro Deese, 138 Georgia St. S.W., Concord.

Deese was shot three times with a .40-caliber handgun. He died three hours later at Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast.

The shooting occurred at Cabarrus Arms Apartments on Richard Avenue, near a city fire station.

A Kannapolis police officer responding to the call spotted a white SUV leaving the scene.

Another officer stopped the vehicle a mile or so away on South Main Street.

Capt. Chuck Adams of the Kannapolis Police Department said authorities detained the four men and brought in search dogs. A dog located a .40-caliber handgun a short distance from where the vehicle was stopped.

Witnesses to the shooting told police there was nothing immediately apparent that led to the shooting.

"We don't know the motive,"Adams said. "We're trying to determine if they had any previous problems."

Adams said it's also unclear why the incident occurred at the apartment complex.

At least one of the four charged, Deandre Javont Little, 33, 161 Waco Ave., apparently had lived at the complex previously.

Adams said at this point the four are all charged with murder, including a 16-year-old, Kevin Dwayne Kirkpatrick, who lives in the public housing project operated by the Rowan County Housing Authority at 507 Old Creek Court.

Others charged with murder are:

- Demarcus Antwain Rivens, 27, of 1515 Light House Lane (off Oakwood Avenue).

- Jimmon Leedarrente Rice, 23, of 2104 S. Ridge Ave.

All four are being held in the Cabarrus County jail without bond.

N.C. Department of Correction records shows Deese, the victim, was convicted of misdemeanor and felony offenses ranging from assault by pointing a gun in 1987 to multiple drug offenses including possession, and maintaining a place to sell a controlled substance.

He was released earlier this year after serving almost 18 months in prison.

His death marks the third murder in Kannapolis this year.