“We have made a positive identification and warrants have been obtained as of today,” Detective Jeff Davis said.

Davis declined to immediately discuss the person's name or speculate on the person's whereabouts.

News of the identification comes after Davis and Detective Bobby Martin have invested some 300 man hours in the case. “The majority of that was in the initial stages of the investigation,” Davis said.

Most of the investigation in the case been within the city limits of Roanoke Rapids, Davis said, although the police department has worked with several out of state agencies and the federal government in the matter.

The seventh suspect will face the same charges as 18-year-old Rodney Joyner, the first person to be arrested in the September 24 murder of Cotton and shooting of Squire that occurred on a rainy afternoon on Gordon Drive.

The pair face charges of attempted first-degree murder, one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, one count of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of felony conspiracy and one count of going armed to the terror of the public.

Both Davis and Martin this evening declined comment on whether the fact the two men both were charged with going armed to the terror of the people meant they were the alleged the triggermen.

Martin said he was pleased the investigation has progressed to this point. “I'm glad the investigation is coming to an end so it can give the families some closure. It's hard for the loved ones.”