A traffic stop in Roanoke Rapids early this morning led to the discovery of a body in the trunk of a vehicle and murder charges lodged against four people by the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Deputy Scott Hall of the sheriff’s office said in a statement Officer C. Roberts II of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department stopped a vehicle for speeding.

Roanoke Rapids police Chief Bobby Martin said Roberts made the stop at Highway 158 and Georgia Avenue after the driver of the vehicle was reportedly traveling well in excess of the posted 45 miles per hour speed limit.

Martin said what led to the search of the vehicle and the discovery of the body of 23-year-old Trevon Quantavius Fields was that marijuana was found in the vehicle. Officers also found weapons in the vehicle.

Roanoke Rapids Sergeant R. Cross and his dog Midas were on standby to assist.

Hall said Fields died from apparent gunshot wounds. Roanoke Rapids detectives learned Fields was most likely killed just outside the city limits.

Hall said this afternoon the shooting death of Fields occurred on Dickens Avenue which is off Highway 158.

He said it is unclear what the intentions of the four people in the vehicle had with the body and detectives with the sheriff's office continue to investigate.

He said the shooting death occurred sometime before 1 this morning and investigators are unsure at this point of the relationship between the four people charged and the victim.

In the gallery from left: Person, Robinson, Shearin and Squire

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Arrested and charged with murder in the case are Ralik Robinson, 22, Trevathann Myquan Shearin, 20, Shantron Avondre Person, 20, who are all from the Roanoke Rapids area, and Deluntae Jaeqon Squire, 23, of Halifax.

The four charged were jailed without opportunity for bond and have January 20 court dates.

Hall said the possible motive in the case remains under investigation.

The chief deputy lauded the work of the police department in the case. “I think their investigative stop was paramount in the case which ultimately led to the arrests. They did great work.”

Martin said charges by the Roanoke Rapids Police Department are expected in the case and will reflect concealment of a body, carrying a concealed weapon, speeding and a charge for the marijuana discovered.

“I’m glad the officers followed safety precautions,” Martin said. “The officers used their training to discover there was more from this traffic stop. I hate this for the family of the victim.”