THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 21, 1995 TAG: 9503210302
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
An Elizabeth City man remained jailed without bond Monday after an initial appearance on first-degree murder charges that stem from a weekend shooting.
Tracey Brite, 18, of the 300 block of Beechwood Ave., appeared in Pasquotank County District Court to hear charges that he killed a man during a scuffle at a birthday party Friday night.
A probable-cause hearing in the case was set for April 10.
Anthony T. Saunders, 24, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was shot twice in the back about 11:45 p.m. at the American Legion Hut on South Martin Street, where more than 100 people had gathered for a private birthday party, said police Capt. W.O. Leary.
Witnesses told police that the shooting occurred as Saunders, who was in town visiting his grandmother, fought with Brite's brother, Barrett Brite, Leary said. The two had apparently brushed against each other, and Saunders had knocked Barrett Brite down during the altercation, Leary said.
Police searched for Tracey Brite ``all night long,'' Leary said. The suspect turned himself in about 9:30 a.m., saying he had heard police were looking for him, Leary said.
Police have not recovered what they believe to be a .32-caliber automatic that was used to kill Saunders, Leary said.
The night of the shootings, Brite was free on bond after a Feb. 21 arrest in another shooting. In that incident, a man was shot in the leg during a fight over a girl, Leary said. Brite, who had been released on bond March 9, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury in that shooting. .
Police have asked any witnesses to the shooting Friday who have not been interviewed to call the Elizabeth City Police Department at 335-4321 or 335-9600.
KEYWORDS: SHOOTING MURDER ARREST by CNB