A juvenile who Roanoke Rapids police Chief Shane Guyant said threatened to shoot officers and an 18-year-old in the company of the teen Sunday were arrested and face weapons counts.

The events that led to the charges against the 17-year-old and 18-year-old Maleek Xzaiver Moody of Roanoke Rapids began Friday around 9 p.m. when officers responded to a domestic call where shots were fired near the 1200 block of Washington Street and the 200 block of East Thirteenth Street, Guyant said.

B-squad officers learned that a couple was arguing on Washington Street and that shots were fired at them from the alley behind them from Jefferson and East Thirteenth streets.

During a search of the Thirteenth Street residence, for which the officers were granted permission, they located the 17-year-old lying on a bedroom floor. 

Two firearms were found in the residence, one a loaded pistol with an extended magazine. The juvenile had been lying on top of this pistol, which was stolen from Northampton County in September. An AR-15 pistol was determined to not be stolen.

In the gallery: Moody and the weapons seized

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A secured custody order was sought from the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention against the 17-year-old for felony possession of a stolen firearm.  Instead of a secured custody order, juvenile justice officials released the teen under an alternative plan to a guardian.

On Sunday shortly after midnight, Officer M. Morris observed a vehicle displaying a registration plate with a pick-up order issued by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles.  

Morris conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle near Old Farm Road and Julian R. Allsbrook Highway. 

The driver was identified as Israel Emmanuel Person, 18, of Pendleton. 

Morris smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and searched the vehicle.

Three firearms were found concealed in the front passenger and rear area of the vehicle. Person was cited and released for no operator's license and carrying a concealed weapon.

Moody was arrested and charged with felony alter/remove gun serial number and carrying a concealed weapon. An AK-47 was found concealed near where Moody was seated in the vehicle. He received a $2,000 bond and has a district court date Thursday.

The rear passenger was the same juvenile officers dealt with Friday.

Again, Guyant said, officers requested a secured custody order against the juvenile for felony alter/remove gun serial number, carrying a concealed weapon, minor in possession of a firearm, and communicating threats. 

The communicating threats charge stemmed from the juvenile telling one of the arresting officers that they were, “Going to shoot them in the face when they see them in the street again,” Guyant said. 

Two handguns were found concealed near where the juvenile was seated in the vehicle. “For the second straight request on the same juvenile who was in possession of two concealed firearms, and threatened to shoot a police officer in the face, secured custody was denied,” the chief said. “Again, even though the charges met the standards for secured custody under North Carolina General statutes, (juvenile justice authorities) used their discretion and released the juvenile under an alternative detention plan to the juvenile’s guardian. Law enforcement is familiar with this juvenile and a petition will be sought against them.”

As far as the Friday matter and the denial of secured custody for the juvenile, Guyant said, “It is important to note that officers were at this location because of shots fired at others. Although it is not known whether the shots were fired by this gun or not, or by this juvenile, nonetheless, the existence of the shooting incident, in conjunction with a stolen firearm caused concern to officers.”

Guyant could not immediately be reached for further comment this afternoon.