Dontrell RayShawn Powell, a 19-year-old African American male, was found dead on August 26, 2022, in Greenville, North Carolina. Powell's death was the result of gunshot wounds, and his body was discovered at the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Lombard Avenue in the Belvoir community. The Pitt County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene around 11:30 a.m. and immediately began a homicide investigation.
The investigation quickly led to the identification of two suspects.
A juvenile, whose name and age have not been released, was charged and placed into secured custody shortly after Powell's death. The second suspect, Immanuel Jaylean Turner, a 21-year-old male from Greenville, was taken into custody on August 28, 2022. Turner was charged with an open count of murder and booked into the Pitt County Detention Center with no bond.
The investigation into Powell's death is ongoing, with authorities seeking additional information from the public. Detectives have urged anyone with knowledge of the incident or who may have been in the area at the time of the shooting to come forward. The Pitt County Sheriff's Office has also indicated that there may be further arrests or charges as the investigation progresses.
Powell's death has left the community in mourning, and his family held a memorial service on September 3, 2022, at Sycamore Chapel Baptist Church in Greenville. The service was preceded by a viewing on September 2, 2022, at Rountree Family Mortuary & Cremation Service. Powell was laid to rest in Roberson's Family Cemetery in Jamesville, North Carolina.
