Herbrea Brea Labonnie Keels, a 28-year-old African American woman, was tragically found shot to death outside an apartment complex in northeast Charlotte, North Carolina, on December 29, 2020. The incident occurred at the Magnolia Terrace Apartments on Paces Oaks Boulevard, near East W.T. Harris Boulevard. When police arrived at the scene around 2 p.m., they discovered Herbrea Keels with an apparent gunshot wound and pronounced her dead at the scene.
Herbrea Keels was born on July 3,
1992, in Cheverly, Maryland, to Audrey Q. Cureton and Herbert L. Keels III. She was a beloved daughter, granddaughter, goddaughter, sister, aunt, niece, and cousin. Known for her infectious smile, she was dearly missed by her family and friends. Her obituary highlighted her love for her family, including her parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and her dog, Bear.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department launched a homicide investigation following the discovery of Herbrea Keels' body. Despite the efforts of the detectives, no suspects were identified, and the police did not provide any information on what led to the shooting. The CMPD urged anyone with information about the incident to contact them or leave information anonymously with Crime Stoppers.
Herbrea Keels' death marked the third homicide in Charlotte within a 24-hour period. The surge in violence during that time left the community and law enforcement searching for answers. CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings expressed his concern over the increasing violence and the quick escalation to deadly force in conflicts.
The investigation into Herbrea Keels' death remains open, with the CMPD continuing to seek leads and information from the public. The community mourns the loss of a young woman whose life was cut short by senseless violence.
