Forensic evidence leads police to arrest in death of A&T student

By: JournalNow Staff | WGHP/FOX8 NEWS
Published: July 02, 2009

Forensic evidence found at a slain N.C. A&T student's home led to the arrest of a 24-year-old man in Massachusetts, police said.

U.S. marshals, with the help of Springfield, Mass., law-enforcement officials, arrested Jaguar Emanuel Wright, who is now charged with the murder in the death of of A&T student Derek Hodge in April 2008.

"Due to a thorough investigation by our detectives, a thorough on-scene crime investigation by our forensic units -- with help from the state bureau in Raleigh -- we were able to develop the forensic evidence that actually allowed us to obtain a warrant for Jaguar Emanuel Wright," said Greensboro Police Capt. Janice Rogers.

Officers found the body of Hodge, 21, in his off-campus apartment at 1718 Kay St. in Greensboro on April 26, 2008. Hodge, a Wake County native and A&T student, died of a single shotgun wound in his head, his autopsy showed. At the time of the killing, Greensboro Police Chief Tim Bellamy said he could not disclose whether there were signs of a break-in or if the shooter had known Hodge.

University officials said yesterday that Wright was never a student at A&T, and Rogers said that Wright faces extradition back to Greensboro, where he will stand trial.

More than a year after Hodge was killed, Kay Street residents were pleased to hear that police had made an arrest.

"It makes me feel good," said Marlena Gilbert. "It was terrifying the night it happened."

The North Carolina governor's office had approved a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest. The governor's reward was added to a $2,000 reward offered by Crime Stoppers and $3,000 from Hodge's family.

According to the N.C. Department of Correction, Wright is a repeat offender with several felony convictions for assault with a deadly weapon. He was most recently jailed in January 2007 for four months, and was listed on the DOC Web site as a parole/probation absconder.

Wright appeared in District Court for arraignment on a federal fugitive warrant, The Springfield Republican reported. The newspaper also said that Wright's arrest came from a tip from North Carolina law enforcement.

Wright's lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of his client, and said that Wright has family in Springfield, the newspaper said.