The family of slain teen Abraham Jenkins is holding a public memorial today at the church where he was a member.
Jenkins, 19, was shot and killed Monday at the corner of West Horah and Institute streets, just a few blocks from the boarding house where he lived. Andre Rynell Bognuda, 22 of Salisbury has been charged with his murder. Bognuda remains in the Rowan County jail without bond.
Jenkins, a native of Detroit, will be buried in his hometown, his father, Roosevelt Jenkins said.
Tonight’s memorial service is at 7 at Fairview Heights Baptist Church, 704 Old Concord Road, just off Arlington Road.
Roosevelt said the service is “open to anyone who would like to come.”
Roosevelt moved to North Carolina in 2001 and Abraham often visited until he moved to Rowan County in 2011. Abraham had lived at the West Horah Street boarding house with his cousin, Jarrod. He was leaving that day to meet his girlfriend, Da’Qwonda Cox.
Cox told the Post she was on the phone with Abraham before he was killed. Cox said she heard an argument between Abraham and someone else, but she was unable to recognize any words.
She was at the opposite end of the street when she heard gunshots. Cox said by the time she arrived, Abraham was on the ground. She held his hand until he took his final breath, she said.
The incident occurred around 2:50 p.m. and Bognuda was arrested about an hour later during an unrelated traffic stop at Knox Street. Salisbury Police continue to search for a second suspect they believe was involved in the shooting. The second suspect is described as a dark-skinned black male with short dreadlocks and in his late teens to early 20s.
Anyone who would like to help get Abraham Jenkins’ body back to Detroit can inquire with Fairview Heights Baptist Church at 704-637-2944.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Salisbury Police Department at 704-638-5333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245. These calls can be made anonymously.