By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — An 18-year-old man wanted in connection with a weekend murder turned himself in to Salisbury police Monday night.

Elija-wn Unique Oglesby, 18, of 910 S. Jackson St. was charged with the murder of Kornell Cook, who was killed Sunday outside a family member’s residence at 642 Williams Road.

Oglesby was also charged with discharging a weapon into occupied property. He was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center with no bond.

During a news conference Monday, Police Chief Jerry Stokes said investigators are still trying to determine many details of the murder. Stokes said the shooting involved gang members but hasn’t been labeled as gang-motivated.

More arrests are possible, police said.

Stokes said it’s important for the community to understand gun violence will not be tolerated in Salisbury.

“We cannot resolve our differences through the use of firearms,” Stokes said.

Stokes said there does not appear to be any relation between Sunday’s shooting and another attack Sunday that left Rodney Antonio Carpenter seriously injured.

Stokes also said it’s too early to say whether Sunday’s murder is related to a July shooting in front of Go Burrito restaurant and bar downtown. The man killed Sunday is the brother of Jalen Cook, who was charged with two counts of murder in the shootings outside Go Burrito, Stokes said.

Stokes said Kornell Cook has been identified as being involved in gang activity in the past, but he said he could not say that the shooting is gang-related.

According to state corrections records, Oglesby received a 12-month suspended sentence in September 2016 for resisting an officer.

At the news conference, Stokes also talked about crime more broadly within the city. He said police have either obtained warrants for or made arrests in every murder that has occurred in the city limits since January. Stokes said violent crime is declining in Salisbury.

He said the Police Department recently revamped its patrol areas and stepped up its presence in neighborhoods. Those steps have paid off in the form of increased cooperation during criminal investigations, Stokes said.

He said overall violent crime in the city limits is down 4.6 percent compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and State Bureau of Investigation have been helpful in solving murders, Stokes said. The exact nature of that help varies depending on the incident.

After Sunday’s murder, Stokes said, the SBI helped at the crime scene.

Oglesvy’s first appearance in court is scheduled for Thursday.

Editor’s note: this article has been updated to correctly state who was charged in connection with Sunday’s shooting.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.