Desmond Malik Radford, a 22-year-old male of African American ethnicity, tragically lost his life on March 6, 2022, in Northwest, North Carolina. Radford was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds at Crystal Springs Cemetery, alongside another victim, Demetrius Gibbs, aged 29. The discovery was made by Radford's mother, who had gone to check on him after he had gone out to visit a friend at the cemetery.
The investigation into Radford's death revealed that he and Gibbs were likely shot
around 8:30 p.m., approximately two hours before their bodies were found. Law enforcement officials believe that multiple shooters were involved in the incident. The town of Northwest offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, but as of the initial reports, no suspects had been named.
In April 2022, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation announced the arrests of two suspects in connection with the double homicide. Christopher Owen Brooks, 20, of Leland, and a 17-year-old male from Charlotte were charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of firing into an occupied vehicle inflicting serious injury. Brooks was transported to Brunswick County to face his charges, while the 17-year-old was also taken into custody with assistance from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
The case remains under investigation, with the SBI and local law enforcement continuing to work together to gather more information and build a stronger case against the suspects. The community has been deeply affected by the loss of Radford and Gibbs, and efforts to bring justice for the victims continue.
Desmond Malik Radford is remembered fondly by his family and friends for his love of fashion, fast cars, bikes, and music. He was employed by DeVane’s HVAC and HLM Construction before moving to Charlotte and starting work with Amazon. Radford was also a member of Bethel AME Church, where he played the drums for many years. He is survived by his parents, siblings, and his girlfriend, Nymia Davis, with whom he was expecting his first child, a baby girl, in the summer of 2022.
