Kameesha Dae’zuhnaka Powell, a 21-year-old African American woman from Chadbourn, North Carolina, tragically lost her life on July 3, 2021. On that fateful day, Chadbourn Police Department responded to a call at Bando nightclub located at 228 Broadway Road, Chadbourn. Upon arrival, officers found De’onde Qwabe Xavier Sadler, age 27, and Mack Darren Jenkins, Jr., age 26, lying on the ground, deceased from gunshot wounds.
While on the scene, Chadbourn Police Officers were advised of additional gunshot victims arriving at Columbus Regional Medical Center. Kameesha Dae’zuhnaka Powell succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
The incident that led to Kameesha's death occurred during a gathering at the nightclub, where violence erupted in the early-morning hours of July 3. Investigators have not released details about what led to the eruption of violence at the party. Five months later, investigators had not made an arrest in the case, and her family was still looking for answers. The triple homicide, which also claimed the lives of De’onde Qwabe Xavier Sadler and Mack Darren Jenkins, Jr., rocked the small town of Chadbourn, home to about 1,600 residents.
In response to the tragic event, Governor Roy Cooper announced that the State was offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murders of De’onde Qwabe Xavier Sadler, Mack Darren Jenkins, Jr., and Kameesha Dae’zuhnaka Powell, as well as the assault of Ordashia Zhane McFadden, age 22. Despite the reward and ongoing investigations, no arrests had been made, and the community continued to grapple with the loss and seek justice for the victims.
The town of Chadbourn has faced multiple challenges, including a rise in violent crime and a scandal involving the former police chief, William Spivey, who was indicted on 88 felony charges, including drug trafficking. The arrest of Spivey tainted the town and eroded trust in law enforcement, further complicating the community's efforts to address the violence and seek justice for victims like Kameesha.
