Aaron Copeland, a 22-year-old man from Lillington, NC, tragically died on September 29, 2020, in Fayetteville, NC. He was found shot near the roadway on Shawcross Lane and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. The Fayetteville Police Department launched an investigation into his death, which they determined was not a random act.
Sanquon McDougald, 23, and Kweli McNeill, 16, were arrested and charged with Aaron Copeland's murder.
According to court documents, the incident occurred after McDougald and McNeill had an altercation with Copeland and his girlfriend. The argument escalated, and both McDougald and McNeill allegedly fired multiple shots at Copeland, who was shot multiple times in the back. Witnesses reported that the dispute was over accusations that Copeland had "snitched" to the police in another case.
During the court proceedings, McDougald's defense attorney argued that the witnesses were under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time of the incident and that their stories had changed over time. Despite these claims, McDougald was held on a $1 million bail, while the state decided not to seek the death penalty against him due to McNeill's age.
The investigation into Aaron Copeland's death remains ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Fayetteville Police Department or Crime Stoppers.
