Donald Charles Owens III, a 29-year-old African American male from Fayetteville, North Carolina, tragically lost his life on April 25, 2022. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Coliseum Inn on Gillespie Street, where Owens was shot around 9 p.m. on April 24, 2022. He was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries the following morning.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into the shooting and identified
Damon Javone Ward, a 28-year-old male from Fayetteville, as a person of interest. Ward was sought for questioning shortly after the incident. The investigation revealed that Owens had been involved in an altercation with Ward in the motel parking lot, which escalated into the fatal shooting.
On November 4, 2022, Damon Javone Ward was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Donald Charles Owens III. Ward was already in custody at the Cumberland County Detention Center on unrelated charges when he was served with the murder warrant. He is currently being held without bail.
The case has garnered significant attention in the local community, with many seeking justice for Owens and his family. The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, and anyone with information is encouraged to come forward. The legal proceedings against Ward are ongoing, and he is expected to face trial for the murder of Donald Charles Owens III.
