Gavin Dozier, a 17-year-old male from Wilmington, North Carolina, tragically lost his life on November 12, 2020. Gavin, who was a student at Cape Fear Center for Inquiry and New Hanover High School, was known for his quiet but passionate love for animals and his enthusiasm for cars. He enjoyed spending quality time with his family and friends, and his untimely death left a void in the lives of those who knew him.
The incident that led to Gavin's death occurred in the parking lot of a
Walmart in Monkey Junction on Carolina Beach Road. According to reports, Gavin had gone to the location to purchase a gun from Thomas Duran and Laron Lee Carter. During the transaction, something went wrong, and Gavin was shot. Deputies responded to a call about shots fired in the area around 4 p.m. and found Gavin with gunshot wounds. He was transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Thomas Duran, who was 18 at the time, and Laron Lee Carter, who was 22, were both charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon. Duran was allegedly driving Carter's car, with Gavin in the passenger seat and Carter in the backseat, when the shooting occurred. After the incident, Duran and Carter met up with their girlfriends, Taytum Herrick and Hailey Berardi, who allegedly helped them cover up the shooting. Herrick and Berardi were charged with accessory to the fact.
In March 2023, Thomas Duran pleaded guilty to his involvement in the shooting, but his sentencing was postponed pending the outcomes of the co-defendants' trials. In December 2023, Laron Lee Carter was found guilty of first-degree murder and robbery and was sentenced to life without parole. The case remains a poignant reminder of the tragic consequences of violence and the impact it has on the lives of victims and their families.
