Missing Man Found Dead in Submerged Car, Five Arrested in High School Shooting

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Investigators are working to determine how a missing 26-year-old man died after his body was found in a submerged car in a retention pond at the Reserve at Bradford Apartments on Sunday. Laquan Little was last seen at the complex on Dec. 30, and his mother reported last hearing from him around 3 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. The cause of death remains under investigation.

In a separate case, Winston-Salem police announced the first arrests in connection with a shooting outside R.J. Reynolds High School more than a month ago. Among the five individuals charged, three are teenagers who will be tried as adults. The suspects include 16-year-olds Toledo Camacho and Ricardo Mejia, charged with robbery, and Olaya Mejia, facing a felony count of inciting a riot. Seventeen-year-old Larry Noyola Toledo is charged with conspiracy to commit felony assault, while 18-year-old Jonathan Dallas faces an assault charge and felony inciting a riot. Twenty-two-year-old Moises Ocampo is charged with possession of stolen property.

Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough credited the community for providing crucial information that led to the arrests. “You put information out there, the community gets involved, and I want to thank the community,” Kimbrough said. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”

Meanwhile, Lexington City Council appointed Steven Holden as its new full-time city attorney. Holden, who has practiced law since 1981, previously served as a part-time city attorney since 2018. His appointment comes as the city prepares for upcoming legal challenges and initiatives.

In national news, Senate confirmation hearings began for President-elect Donald Trump‘s cabinet nominees. Former Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth faced tough questions during his hearing for Defense Secretary. Hegseth, who has a record of controversial statements, emphasized his commitment to achieving “peace through strength” and maintaining an apolitical approach to national security.

Locally, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board is considering transitioning away from the PowerSchool student information system following a cyber incident. The district is still assessing the extent of the data breach and plans to discuss the transition at an upcoming meeting.

Several North Carolina school districts announced delays or remote learning for Wednesday, Jan. 15, due to icy road conditions. Affected districts include Guilford County, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, and Yadkin County, among others.