Wilmington man charged with murder in 2021 shooting, victim’s mother relieved

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - A Wilmington man has been charged in a 2021 fatal shooting, according to the Wilmington Police Department.

Jamal Terrell Griggs, 29, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Shelton Long, of Riegelwood.

According to the WPD, officers found Long dead from an apparent gunshot wound in the 4200 block of River Road on Nov. 5, 2021.

More than 14 months after Long’s death, his mother Pamela says while she is relieved to hear the news, she knows it will not bring her son back.

“I can’t really celebrate it because if I celebrate it, it’s like, I know he’s gone and he’s not coming back,” Long said. “But if I celebrate this, its like he’s really gone. He’s not going to pull up in the yard. He’s not going to FaceTime, and he’s not going to text me. He’s not going to call.”

Griggs was already in custody in Edgecombe County on a federal gun charge when he was charged with killing Long. Court documents describe Griggs as a validated gang member with a violent criminal history.

Long’s grandmother, Fannie, wonders why anyone would have wanted to hurt her grandson.

“I don’t know of anybody Shelton’s ever intentionally hurt,” Fannie Long said. “He was not a violent person and he had a heart as big as gold. And he wanted everybody to be happy.”

Pamela Long says she is still looking for answers and plans to follow the court process to learn more about what happened to her son.

“It’s the beginning of justice,” said Long. “So, once we have that conviction, then that’s going to make a big difference because with him not being here I can’t, you know, you can’t really say anything because we didn’t have any answers.”

Long wants to make sure her son is remembered.

“Anybody that knew Shelton will tell you he lived his life. The only thing he was cut short of was growing old, because he lived his life to the fullest,” she said.

Griggs is still in Edgecombe County but will eventually be transported to New Hanover County to appear on the murder charge.

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