Brandon Leonard, a 31-year-old man from Fairmont, North Carolina, was tragically shot to death in Lumberton on October 8, 2022. The incident occurred around 2:20 a.m. on South Rozier Street, where police found Leonard's lifeless body. The investigation into his death revealed that Leonard, who was of African American descent, had succumbed to a gunshot wound.
Following the discovery of Brandon Leonard's body, the Lumberton Police Department launched an investigation to identify and
apprehend those responsible for his murder. The investigation led to the issuance of warrants for three suspects: Michael Deshawn Cooper, 32, Derrick Daqaan McRae, 29, and Javonte Antonio McDougal, 23. All three men faced charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Michael Deshawn Cooper was arrested on October 22, 2022, and booked into the Robeson County Detention Center without bond. In addition to the murder charges, Cooper was also charged with conspiracy and robbery with a dangerous weapon. The other two suspects, Derrick Daqaan McRae and Javonte Antonio McDougal, remained at large and were actively sought by law enforcement. McRae faced additional charges of attempting to obtain property by false pretense.
The investigation into Brandon Leonard's death continued as authorities worked to gather more information and bring the remaining suspects to justice. The Lumberton Police Department urged anyone with information about the case to come forward and assist in the ongoing efforts to solve the crime.
