Eric De'Sean Glenn, a 30-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on June 9, 2020, in Gastonia, North Carolina. The incident occurred at the Incgo Express convenience store on Lowell Bethesda Road. Glenn was fatally shot in the chest by Marshawn Devon Sanders, a 31-year-old man from Shelby, North Carolina. The shooting was the culmination of a series of threats and harassment by Sanders towards his ex-girlfriend, Brittany McGraw, who was also present at the scene.
Sanders had been in a toxic relationship with McGraw, and following their breakup, he began threatening her and her acquaintances, including Glenn.
On the day of the incident, Sanders and his new girlfriend, Ashley Abernathy, 38, followed McGraw's car to the convenience store. McGraw's vehicle, which also contained her two-year-old son and Glenn, was targeted by Sanders. As the car was parked, Abernathy circled the vehicle while Sanders fired multiple shots in their direction. One of the bullets narrowly missed McGraw's son before striking Glenn in the chest. Despite witnesses' attempts to provide aid, Glenn succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Following the shooting, Sanders and Abernathy were arrested. Sanders was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Abernathy was charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. During the trial, it was revealed that Sanders had a history of violent behavior and had previously threatened McGraw and her family. Abernathy eventually pleaded guilty to her charges and was sentenced to approximately seven to ten years in prison.
Sanders' trial lasted a week, and the jury deliberated for an hour before finding him guilty of all charges. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The case highlighted the dangers of domestic violence and the tragic consequences it can have on innocent individuals. The community of Gastonia was left reeling from the loss of Eric De'Sean Glenn, a young man whose life was cut short by senseless violence.
