Herbert Lee Goodson, a 20-year-old African American male, was tragically killed on June 24, 2020, in Spring Lake, North Carolina. The incident occurred during an attempted robbery at Splash Hair Studio on North Bragg Boulevard. Goodson was outside the salon with two friends when a gunman confronted them, leading to a shootout. Goodson had withdrawn $1,200 from an ATM just 30 minutes before the shooting and had returned to work at the salon.
The confrontation resulted in Goodson's death and a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his friend, Deshawn Jones, 20, of Fort Bragg.
Three men were arrested and charged in connection with Goodson's death. Montre Javon Moody, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, accessory after the fact of voluntary manslaughter, and accessory to assault with a deadly weapon after the fact. In exchange for his plea, charges of first-degree murder, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury were dismissed. Moody was sentenced to 23 months to three years and four months in prison, with credit for the more than 18 months he spent in jail awaiting trial. He will also serve 18 months of unsupervised probation upon his release.
Jarad Sequan Simmons, 32, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury. Simmons was sentenced to seven years and three months to nine years and nine months in prison, with credit for the nearly four years he spent in jail awaiting trial. He is required to undergo a mental health assessment during his sentence.
Joseph Marquan Coverson, 29, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon and assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury. In exchange for his plea, charges of first-degree murder, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury were dismissed. Coverson was sentenced to 23 months to three years and four months in prison, with credit for the nine months he spent in jail awaiting trial. Upon his release, he will serve 18 months of unsupervised probation.
The case highlights the tragic consequences of violent crime and the legal proceedings that followed to bring justice for Herbert Lee Goodson and his family.
