Charles Edward Anderson Jr., a 27-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on September 14, 2021, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The incident occurred at an apartment complex on Ferrell Court, where Anderson was found with a gunshot wound. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, he succumbed to his injuries later that day. The shooting was part of a series of violent events in Winston-Salem, which saw three shootings within a span of 12 hours.
The investigation into
Anderson's death revealed that it was the result of a robbery gone wrong. On the day of the incident, three individuals, including Keanu D'Anthony Duncan, who was 16 at the time, forcibly entered the home of Lateshia Benjamin, the mother of Anderson's children. The intruders, wearing masks and armed with handguns, attempted to rob Anderson. In the ensuing struggle, Anderson was shot while trying to protect his family. The suspects fled the scene but were later identified through video surveillance.
Keanu D'Anthony Duncan was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree murder, among other offenses. During the investigation, it was discovered that Duncan had posted a Snapchat story approximately an hour before the shooting, showing him and two others with handguns in the parking lot of the Rolling Hills Apartments. The clothing worn by the individuals in the video matched those seen fleeing the scene on surveillance footage. Ballistics testing confirmed that the shell casings found at the crime scene matched the handgun in Duncan's possession.
The legal proceedings against Duncan culminated in his guilty plea to second-degree murder and other charges. He was sentenced to 216-272 months in the North Carolina Department of Corrections. The case highlighted issues of security negligence at the apartment complex, raising questions about the adequacy of measures in place to protect residents and visitors. The family of Charles Edward Anderson Jr. may pursue legal claims and seek compensation for their loss.
