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MURFREESBORO – A morning of fishing with friends turned tragic near here on Friday when a boat capsized in a farm pond resulting in the death of a local teen.

Hertford County Sheriff Dexter Hayes said that 16-year-old Octavius Tyquan Cooper of Murfreesboro drowned in the pond.

Hayes said the pond was located off US 158 just east of Murfreesboro in the vicinity of two solar farms in that general area. The call came in at 10:37 a.m. and the first wave of emergency responders arrived just a few minutes later.

Subsequent emergency response included two boats that were deployed to the scene.

“We learned that Octavius was fishing with some friends in the pond,” Hayes said. “It appeared that the boat capsized and he [Cooper] fell in.

“My heart goes out to the family and friends of Octavius,” the Sheriff added.

Hayes thanked the agencies that rushed to the scene: the Murfreesboro Fire Department, Hertford County Emergency Management, Hertford County EMS, and his deputies.