Tavis Tae Lasean Rhodes, a 20-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on September 18, 2021, in Durham, North Carolina. Rhodes was one of two individuals shot and killed in a parking deck at North Carolina Central University during a football game. The shooting did not involve NCCU students, and the campus police sent an alert to the community after reports of shots fired around 9:30 p.m. on that fateful night.
Rhodes and another victim, Shamori Brown, were injured and later succumbed to their injuries at a local hospital.
Rhodes, a graduate of Hillside High School in 2019, served in the Army Reserves and left behind a 3-month-old son. His family described him as passionate, hardworking, and dedicated. His mother, who chose to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, expressed her grief and disbelief, recalling the last time she saw him in his uniform. Rhodes' girlfriend, now left to raise their child alone, shared her sorrow and the dreams she had for their family.
The incident led to a lockdown of more than 5,600 attendees at the nearby O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, and surrounding roads were closed as police actively searched for the shooter or shooters. Durham police are investigating the case and are searching for a black Nissan Altima with tinted windows. The motive and cause of the shooting remain under investigation, and police have not released the identity of the second person killed. Rhodes' mother emphasized her desire for justice and her determination to remember her son for the person he was.
In 2021, Durham experienced over 30 homicides, prompting local officials to address the rising violence in the city. The NCCU campus was declared a "safe community" despite the tragic event, and the investigation into Rhodes' death continues. Anyone with information is urged to contact Investigator Mitchell or CrimeStoppers, with cash rewards offered for leads that result in arrests.
