Deputies arrested a 27-year-old man nearby after a Friday night shooting on Oak Breeze Drive close to the Iredell County line.
ROWAN COUNTY, NC — A 38-year-old woman was killed and a 38-year-old man was wounded in a shooting Friday night near the Rowan-Iredell County line, according to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. A 27-year-old man was arrested nearby and faces murder and attempted murder charges.
Deputies responded shortly after 8:30 p.m. Sept. 4 to the 1400 block of Oak Breeze Drive in western Rowan County near Mooresville. Authorities found Sarah Sharp, 38, unresponsive with at least one gunshot wound and Joshua Obugene, 38, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sharp was pronounced dead at the scene after medical treatment was attempted. Obugene received medical care, but authorities have not released an updated condition.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had left the scene and might be hiding nearby, according to accounts citing the sheriff’s office. The agency’s Special Response Team was called to assist because of the potential danger posed during the search. Deputies eventually located the suspect at a nearby residence and took him into custody without incident.
The suspect was identified in reporting based on the sheriff’s office information as 27-year-old Jaylene Ty’rese White. WBTV rendered his first name as Jay’len, while WSOC-TV reported it as Jaylene. White was charged with murder in connection with Sharp’s death and attempted first-degree murder in connection with the shooting of Obugene. The charges are allegations, and the case has not been adjudicated.
Investigators said White knew both people who were shot. The sheriff’s office said an “ongoing conflict” involving the three preceded the shooting, but officials had not publicly described the nature of that conflict or released further information about what investigators believe happened immediately before gunfire began.
The shooting happened at a mobile home on Oak Breeze Drive, according to WBTV, a little more than a mile from the Iredell County line. Although some reports described the location as near Mooresville, authorities identified the shooting scene as being in Rowan County. The Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation and the search that followed.
White was taken to the Rowan County jail and initially held without bond, according to local reports citing investigators. He was scheduled to make his first court appearance Tuesday, Sept. 8. No additional charges had been publicly announced as of Monday, and authorities had not released information about an attorney representing him.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remained active. Authorities have not publicly released additional details about the alleged conflict, the sequence of events inside or around the home, or Obugene’s latest medical condition. Investigators have asked people with information about the shooting to contact the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.
Author note: Last updated September 7, 2026.