HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — The mayor of High Point addressed the public on Thursday morning about a “recent family incident” which he is calling a “tragic accident.”
Cyril and Raven Jefferson spoke about Raven’s younger brother, 18, being involved in the reportedly accidental shooting of their cousin. He lives with the couple as he prepares to attend college, and Jefferson describes his wife as very supportive of her brother.
Documents released after a public records request indicate that Rothwell told police that he and his cousin, Hasson Williams, had been “messing” with the gun and it went off, hitting Williams in the head, according to police documents.
Raven Jefferson’s brother and another cousin were taken in to be questioned by police, and Cyril and Raven Jefferson were at the scene of the shooting hours later, helping to get the personal effects of the pair being questioned from the home.
“In the days and weeks following the event, all we were doing as a family was mourning,” Jefferson said at the conference.
Jefferson was clear he didn’t know why no one had been charged in the incident, and that he’s not close to the investigation whatsoever.
The SBI provided the following statement about the ongoing investigation: “Once we complete an investigation, the case file is submitted to the prosecutor for review. The prosecutor determines whether criminal charges are appropriate, not the SBI.”
“My cousin was always about family, he was very funny,” Raven Jefferson said. “Loved his family, would do any and everything, especially the women in his family and his children, he loved them so much. When I say I love my cousin, I really do, and I am sorry for his loss.”
When asked if he believed the shooting could have been prevented, Jefferson said “any tragic accident, all of us hope and think back about how it could have gone differently. I have to believe there are some steps that could have been taken, but having not been there, not being close to the situation, there’s no way for me to know.”
Background
In November, documents were shared that revealed that High Point Police Department handed over a case to the State Bureau of Investigation due to a “conflict of interest,” naming Jefferson specifically.
These documents surrounded the death of 32-year-old Williams, who was found shot in the head at his apartment along Ridgebrooke Drive. Williams was identified by Jefferson as his wife’s cousin.
No one has been charged, the SBI has taken lead on the investigation, and in November, Jefferson provided the following statement to FOX8:
“My wife and I mourn the loss of her first cousin, Hasson Williams, and I personally extend sincere condolences to those family members who were closest to him, including his fiancée and mother of his children, Torei Johnson,” Jefferson told FOX8. “As an advocate for gun safety, it breaks my heart to learn about this accident. We look forward to the SBI completing their investigation into the matter and cannot provide any further comment at this time. I appreciate the media and other members of the public giving the family the space needed to grieve and recover from this loss.”
