Joshue Medina, who fled from his hospital room at Pitt Memorial in Greenville while he was being treated for gunshot wounds sustained in a late November shootout, is in a secured facility at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City.

Lieutenant Jerry Powell of the Enfield Police Department said Medina checked himself into an emergency room the following morning after he left Pitt complaining of chest pains. “The hospital figured out his chest wasn't the only thing hurting and they finally figured out who he was and that he was wanted,” he said, explaining emergency room staff noted he had been shot.

Hospital staff admitted him to a protective custody unit at Bellevue and he was served warrants from Virginia.

Powell said investigators aren't sure whether Medina, 24, of Roanoke Rapids, knew anyone or had family in New York. A law enforcement source familiar with Medina confirmed he does have contacts in New York.

Powell said officers believe Medina fled the hospital most likely because he was going to be charged in Halifax County and Virginia. “He probably felt he could get up there and get lost in anonymity.”

Powell said Enfield continues to investigate the shootout, which was apparently over a botched drug deal and left three people hospitalized, one who was treated and released. “We're looking really hard into some stuff and still trying to identify the fourth person. We're still getting information off the streets.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444 or the Enfield Police Department at 252-445-5122.