In a quiet mobile home park on Carl Ball Lane, nestled off Highway 55 in the Moss Hill area of Lenoir County, North Carolina, a devastating tragedy unfolded on the morning of May 2, 2025. The serene stillness of this rural community, typically home to older residents and marked by its peaceful ambiance, was shattered by a violent act that claimed two lives and left a community grappling with shock and sorrow. A dog, caught in the crossfire, also suffered injuries, adding to the heartbreak of an already unimaginable scene. The events of that morning have left residents and authorities searching for answers, as the pain of loss ripples through the tight-knit region.
The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 8:30 a.m. According to investigators, 35-year-old Ross Jovian Smith forcibly entered a residence on Carl Ball Lane, where he encountered his estranged wife, 33-year-old Latoya Marie Smith, and 24-year-old Calvin Carlyle Kennion of Pink Hill. In a burst of violence, Ross Smith allegedly opened fire, fatally wounding Latoya Smith at the scene. Calvin Kennion, gravely injured, was airlifted to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, where he fought for his life but succumbed to his injuries later that day. A dog inside the home was also shot, though it survived and is receiving care. The brutality of the act, described by a neighbor as “very unusual” for the tranquil area, has left the community reeling.
Sheriff Jackie Rogers, addressing the media, outlined the sequence of events that followed the shooting. Ross Smith fled the scene in a black Chrysler sedan, prompting a swift response from law enforcement. With assistance from the Kinston Police Department, authorities located the vehicle abandoned on the 1400 block of Stroud Avenue in Kinston. A manhunt ensued, and by 11:30 a.m., Smith was apprehended near the intersection of Highway 903 and Highway 11 in Pitt County. He was taken into custody without incident and is currently being held as investigators continue their interviews. Sheriff Rogers confirmed that Smith faces a litany of charges, including two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Latoya Smith and Calvin Kennion, attempted first-degree murder, felony breaking and entering, and felony animal cruelty. Additional charges may be filed as the investigation progresses.
The tragedy has struck a deep chord in Lenoir County, where such violent incidents are rare. A local resident, whose mother lives in the mobile home park, spoke to reporters about the surreal nature of the event. “It’s quiet here,” he said. “You don’t hear much, you don’t see much. This is something that just doesn’t happen.” The loss of Latoya Smith, a young woman with ties to the community, and Calvin Kennion, a Pink Hill resident whose life was cut short, has prompted an outpouring of grief. Authorities have not yet released details about the relationships between the individuals involved or the motive behind the shooting, but the fact that Latoya was Ross Smith’s estranged wife suggests a possible domestic dispute at the heart of the tragedy.
As the investigation continues, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information to come forward. The community, meanwhile, is left to mourn and reflect on a day that has forever altered its sense of safety. For now, the focus remains on supporting the families of Latoya Smith and Calvin Kennion, as well as the injured dog, while seeking justice for a crime that has shaken a small corner of North Carolina to its core.