DOBBINS HEIGHTS — The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has charged a Hamlet man in the murder and robbery of 17-year-old Malachi Jaheim Hailey, who was found dead behind the Dobbins Heights Community Center on the afternoon of Aug. 6.
Edward McNair Kavien Sloan, 23, of Longwood Street is charged with one felony count each of murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Jail records show that Sloan was arrested on Aug. 14 and charged with one felony count each of possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, altering or removing a gun’s serial number, and a felony probation violation. He is additionally charged with two misdemeanor counts of resisting a public officer.
Deputies were called to the Dobbins Heights Community Center at 3:01 p.m. on Aug. 6 in reference to a person lying behind the building after the body was discovered by a 12-year-old boy who was playing basketball about 20 yards away. They found Hailey deceased at the scene.
Sloan is held at the Richmond County Jail without a bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 5 for the murder and robbery charges.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation into Hailey’s death is still “very active” and anyone with any information that may be helpful to investigators is encouraged to call the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 910-895-3232 or Richmond County Crime Stoppers at 910-997-5454.
Sloan was arrested by the Hamlet Police Department in November 2018 and charged with one felony count each of attempted first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon following a shooting at the Richmond County Soup Kitchen in October.
Records with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety show that Sloan served a total of 15 months following convictions on one felony count each of larceny after breaking and entering and larceny of over $1,000. He was released on Aug. 19, 2018.
Most recently, Sloan was convicted of one felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon in March and sentenced to probation.
