Two charged with attempting to remove evidence from scene of shooting

Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 18, 2024

SALISBURY — The victim of a shooting and her boyfriend have been arrested after police said the two attempted to remove narcotics and other evidence from a crime scene on Monday.

Police initially responded to the 400 block of North Craige Street at approximately 11:30 p.m. in reference to shots fired, said Major Justin Crews, a spokesperson for the Salisbury Police Department. While responding, officers were reportedly alerted that a woman, identified as 20-year-old Kierra Lanay McCoy, had shown up at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center suffering from a gunshot wound. 

The officers then responded to the hospital as well and spoke to McCoy, who said that she had been riding in a car along North Craige Street when an unknown person had fired into the car, hitting her, according to Crews.

Police then reportedly cordoned off the car and an adjacent house, which was the residence of McCoy’s boyfriend, identified as 22-year-old Marcellus Anque Steele. While police searched the car, McCoy returned from the hospital and allegedly walked into the marked off area before taking narcotics and her phone out of the car and running away. Police then chased her on foot and arrested her, Crews said.

Later during the search, Steele returned from the hospital as well and allegedly attempted to take something else out of the car before police reportedly placed him under arrest.

During a search of the area, officers found four guns in the home. One was a firearm that had been reported stolen and another was a Glock handgun that had been modified to fire automatic instead of semi-automatic.

McCoy was charged with felony altering, destroying or stealing evidence of criminal conduct. She was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center and given a $5,000 bond by Magistrate Towne.

Steele was charged with felony altering, destroying or stealing evidence of criminal conduct; possession of a schedule VI controlled substance with intent to manufacture, sell or distribute; a misdemeanor probation violation, felony possessing a stolen firearm; possession of a schedule II controlled substance; felony possessing or manufacturing a weapon of mass destruction; felony trafficking heroin or opium; maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for controlled substances; and common law obstruction of justice. Steele was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center and given a $235,000 bond.