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A woman wanted on two murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of two Virginia Department of Transportation contractors was taken into custody Thursday morning in Scotland Neck, ending a search that had previously brought authorities to several locations across northeastern North Carolina.
Dennikia Boyce, 37, was taken into custody at approximately 10 a.m. September 10 at a residence on House Avenue in Scotland Neck following a coordinated effort involving the Halifax Regional Drug and Gang Task Force, Scotland Neck Police Department and United States Marshals Service.
According to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, the Scotland Neck Police Department contacted task force agents on September 9 after receiving information that Boyce, who was wanted in connection with a double homicide in Chesterfield County, Virginia, was reportedly in the Scotland Neck area.
During the early morning hours of September 10, the agencies coordinated efforts to locate Boyce. She was eventually found at the House Avenue residence and taken into custody without incident.
Two Virginia Workers Killed
Boyce faces two counts of second-degree murder in Virginia in connection with the July 24 shooting deaths of two VDOT contractors in Chesterfield County.
According to reporting by WSET ABC 13 in Virginia, citing Virginia State Police, the shooting occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. at a VDOT staging area near Route 1 and Route 288.
Rai’Shon Eugene Delarge, 30, died at the scene. Philip Avery Wilson, 34, was transported to a hospital with serious injuries and later died.
WSET reported that investigators identified Boyce as a suspect and arrest warrants charging her with two counts of second-degree murder were issued in Chesterfield County General District Court on the day of the shooting.
Authorities said Boyce subsequently traveled into North Carolina.
Search Extended Into Northampton County
The search for Boyce had reached northeastern North Carolina weeks before her eventual arrest in Scotland Neck.
According to WSET’s reporting, surveillance video captured Boyce at a Walmart in Ahoskie on July 24, the same day as the shootings. She was reportedly seen again two days later at a Sunoco station in Conway.
On July 28, the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office located Boyce’s blue Honda Accord abandoned behind a church in Pendleton.
The search ultimately moved into Halifax County after authorities received information that Boyce was in the Scotland Neck area.
Held Without Bond in Halifax County
Following her arrest, agents with the Halifax Regional Drug and Gang Task Force transported Boyce to the Halifax County Magistrate’s Office, where a fugitive order was obtained.
Boyce was subsequently placed in the Halifax County Detention Center without bond. She is scheduled to appear in court September 22.
WSET reported that Virginia authorities are working to extradite Boyce and that she also faces a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office credited cooperation between local, county and federal law enforcement agencies with safely taking Boyce into custody.
“The trust, partnership, and strong working relationship between the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, the Scotland Neck Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service played a critical role in safely taking this fugitive into custody,” the Sheriff’s Office said in its release.
The Sheriff’s Office said it looks forward to continuing to work with its law enforcement partners “to bring justice to the victims and their families.”
