Desmond Miles Brewington, a 25-year-old male, tragically lost his life on May 17, 2022, in Hope Mills, North Carolina. Desmond was found shot to death at his home, alongside his mother, Julie Camacho Smith, who was also a victim of the same incident. The double homicide occurred at an apartment complex on Hackberry Drive, where their bodies were discovered by a neighbor and her boyfriend.
Desmond, born on August 19, 1996, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, was the son of Charles Allen
Brewington and the late Julie Shepherd Camacho. He was known for his love of drawing and playing sports, and he enjoyed attending Crystal Springs Chapel with his grandmother. The community was deeply affected by the news of his death, as Desmond was a well-known and beloved figure in the neighborhood.
The investigation into the double homicide was led by the Hope Mills Police Department, with assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Unit. Authorities quickly determined that the shooting was not a random act, and they assured the community that there was no lingering threat. Despite the initial lack of suspects, the investigation progressed, and on May 21, 2022, Rodney McCrary, a 68-year-old resident of the same apartment complex, was arrested and charged with two counts each of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and concealing or failing to report a death.
The case against Rodney McCrary is ongoing, with law enforcement agencies continuing to gather evidence and build their case. The community remains hopeful that justice will be served for Desmond Miles Brewington and his mother, Julie Camacho Smith.
