Keyon West, a 28-year-old African American male, was found dead on December 14, 2022, in the Roanoke River in Weldon, North Carolina. His body was discovered inside a car that had been submerged in the river. West had been reported missing on December 5, 2022. An autopsy revealed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head, with six entrance wounds on the right side of his head and three exit wounds on the left side.
The autopsy also noted multiple skull fractures.
The investigation into West's death has been challenging for law enforcement due to the lack of video evidence. Weldon police had security cameras pointed at the area where West's body was found, but the cameras had been offline since 2018 due to budget cuts. This lack of footage has hindered the investigation, although police have been following multiple leads. As of now, no suspects have been named, and the investigation is ongoing.
West's death has drawn attention due to his previous involvement in a high-profile case. In 2017, he was one of three men charged in a quadruple homicide in Enfield, North Carolina. However, the charges against him were dropped in February 2022 after a key witness recanted their testimony. Despite his release, West's past has added a layer of complexity to the investigation into his murder.
The Weldon Police Department has been seeking grant money to bring their security cameras back online, emphasizing the importance of these cameras in solving crimes. The community remains hopeful that justice will be served for Keyon West, and law enforcement continues to work diligently on the case.
