Auburn Odell Clement, a 27-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on September 18, 2022, in Salisbury, North Carolina. The incident occurred near the J.C. Price American Legion Hall on Old Wilkesboro Road. According to reports, emergency dispatch received a call at 12:51 a.m. reporting that Clement had been found near the front entrance of the building, having been shot multiple times.
Evidence at the scene indicated that multiple shots were fired in the parking lot where Clement was struck, collapsed, and ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The American Legion Post was closed at the time, and there was no connection to any activity or event at the location. The individuals involved in the shooting were not authorized to be in the parking lot.
Following the incident, an investigation was launched by the Salisbury Police Department. On September 22, 2022, Kendrick Jamal Vinson, a 31-year-old male, was arrested in connection with the shooting. Vinson was charged with first-degree murder, with the warrant stating that he "unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did of malice aforethought kill and murder Auburn Clement." Vinson was taken into custody with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Kannapolis Police Department. He was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under no bond.
The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing, and authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward. The community's cooperation has been instrumental in building the case and holding those responsible accountable. Auburn Odell Clement's death has left a profound impact on his family and friends, who continue to mourn his loss.
