LENOIR COUNTY, NC
A quiet morning in the rural Moss Hill community turned tragic on May 2, 2025, when a shooting at a mobile home park on Carl Ball Lane claimed two lives and injured a family pet. The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident, which has left residents shaken and mourning a loss many describe as unthinkable in their normally peaceful neighborhood.
Authorities say 35-year-old Ross Jovian Smith forcibly entered a home shortly after 8:30 a.m., where he encountered his estranged wife, 33-year-old Latoya Marie Smith, and 24-year-old Calvin Carlyle Kennion of Pink Hill. Smith allegedly opened fire, killing Latoya at the scene and critically wounding Kennion, who was airlifted to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville. Kennion later died from his injuries. A dog inside the residence was also struck but survived and is receiving veterinary care.
Sheriff Jackie Rogers called the act a “devastating and senseless tragedy” that has deeply impacted the tight-knit community. “This is not something we’re used to,” he said during a press conference. “Our hearts go out to the families of the victims.”
Following the shooting, Smith fled the scene in a black Chrysler sedan. Law enforcement, aided by the Kinston Police Department, tracked the vehicle to Stroud Avenue in Kinston, where it was found abandoned. A multi-agency manhunt ensued, culminating in Smith’s arrest around 11:30 a.m. near the intersection of Highway 903 and Highway 11 in Pitt County. He was taken into custody without incident.
Smith is facing multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, felony breaking and entering, and felony animal cruelty. Officials say more charges may be added as the investigation develops.
The incident has rattled residents of the Carl Ball Lane mobile home park, a community primarily made up of older adults. “It’s usually quiet out here,” said one neighbor. “You never expect something like this on your doorstep.”
While authorities continue to investigate the motive—believed to stem from a domestic dispute—neighbors and loved ones are left grieving the sudden and violent loss of Latoya Smith and Calvin Kennion. The sheriff’s office is encouraging anyone with additional information to come forward.
As this small North Carolina community processes its grief, the focus now turns to healing—and to seeking justice for those whose lives were tragically cut short.
