Teddy Kulmala
Staff writer
LUMBERTON — Master Police Officer Jeremiah Goodson was shot four times and died of a wound to his chest, according to the results of an autopsy.
Goodson was fatally shot on July 17 at the Shell gas station and Xpress Depot on Fayetteville Road while serving a warrant on Marques Ramon Brown, 27. As Goodson approached Brown’s vehicle, Brown began firing, hitting Goodson more than once, according to local authories. He later died at Southeastern Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Richard Johnson, who conducted the autopsy, declined to comment on the location of the other three shots.
“I don’t know how much the police would want me to say,” he said.
Brown has been charged with first-degree murder. District Attorney Johnson Britt plans to seek the death penalty against Brown.
More than 3,000 people lined the streets or attended Goodson’s funeral on Tuesday. He was buried at Gardens of Faith Cemetery after a horse-drawn wagon carrying his casket made its three-mile journey from Lumberton High School, where he was remembered during a ceremony in the gym.
A memorial fund has been created in Lametria Goodson’s name at State Employees Credit Union. Donations can be made by cash, check or money order at either the 4840 Fayetteville Road or the 2739 W. Fifth St. locations.
A Lumberton couple is selling decal stickers memorializing Goodson at several Lumberton businesses, including Pizza Hut, Bryant’s Gun and Pawn, Sassy Gals, the Stomped Grape, the Police Department, the Sheriff’s Office and even the Xpress Depot and Dairy Queen on Fayetteville Road where Goodson was shot.
The stickers cost $4. Amy Mercer, who is selling the stickers with her husband Jamie, said this morning that they have raised about $1,500 for Goodson’s family.
“By the time we sell everything we’ve got … we should be able to give her about $3,500,” Mercer said.
A Facebook group created after Goodson’s death titled “Rest In Peace ~~ Jeremiah Goodson” had more than 1,600 members as of this morning.
Many tributes have also been posted on The Robesonian’s website. Hundreds of condolences for Goodson’s family can also be found at odmp.org, where memorials are posted for fallen officers.
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Not even a week before Jeremiah was killed we attended a class on Deadly Force Survival and Officer Involved Shootings. Its not always as easy as you think. You could go to schools and attend training your whole career and still not get it right. Its very hard process a lifetimes worth of information and procedures in a 1 to 3 second timeframe............. Like I said before unless youve been there or are there youll never know and just "knowing" somebody in law enforcement doesnt give you a basis either.........
If you have never been a LEO and face the dangers both known and unknown everyday that we face, you have nothing to base what youve said on.
Marques Brown made his decision that morning to do what he did. It would have happened in that parking lot or on a traffic stop on a back road in the middle of nowhere. I wish I could have been there that fateful morning as does every other LEO in this county. Like Chief McNeill said, when one bleeds, we all bleed. Ill always wonder if my being there could have kept me from having to ride in that funeral procession from LHS to the cemetary Tues..............
Im not trying to pick a fight with you crazystuff, Im just tired of the whole "you have a lifetime to analyze what we do after it happens when we only get a split second to make the decision" mentality and "why is Marques Brown still alive?" talk. The officer there that morning acted in the highest regards to LEOs. It more guts and dicsipline for him not shoot knowing how much he wanted to than for him just to start unloading on the car.
It is evident that our law enforcement agencies simply do not know or are not applying the best practices that have been proven to help deal with the issue of crimes. As the old saying goes, "the proof is in the pudding." How else could robeson county be the most dangerous county in the state for over 5 years running? It is a matter of action and reaction. We have more than our share of crime because so many cases go unsolved and the crooks fill empowered and other want to be crooks gain power to become active criminals. The only way to deal with this type of problem is effective training and implementation of those strategies.
Concerning Jeremiah, I thought he was a great guy and I knew him also. I never made a claim against him. Rather, my claim was against the training or lack of that goes on here in robeson county via the city and county law enforcement agencies.
I have my opinions on how things should have played out. I don't want to offend anyone or the LPD. I didn't know him but he is and was my brother in law enforcement. I will be sure to honor him in Washington, DC at the National Law Enforcement Memorial in May 2013.
Till youve walked in out shoes how about keeping your "observations" to yourself...........
Youll probably be on here at later date praying for Marques Brown too..........
Maybe you should do us all a favor and hold your breath.
How dare you take this as an opportunity to be show your lack of gratitude and be critical of Ofc. Goodson, a man who laid down his life for you. Shame on you!
Now imagine..this officer just sat in his car and called for back up..in the mean time this "armed and dangerous felon" goes in robs the store and murders every individual in the store!?!? What would you had said then?! He would have been a sorry, no good, cop then right???
Don't question this..show respect for this HERO! Yes it is veryyy unfortunate but this man was doing what he could to take this man off the streets & actually he has now done just that..and it cost him his life..imagine how many he has now saved..it wa his fate, he was doing what he loved.
Sounds like the department needs to take a closer look at their take down procedures of a known "armed and dangerous" fugitive from justice or do a better job of following them in an effort to minimize the chances of this type of terrible event from taking place again. It is so wrong that now we must pay brown's attorney fees,feed him, cloth him and provide medical/dental for him for however long it takes the death penalty to be carried out! I will not be holding my breath because that will take a very long time....