Gary Justin Helsel, a 26-year-old male from Pembroke, North Carolina, tragically lost his life on June 2, 2020. Gary was born on August 3, 1993, to the late Mr. Gary Helsel and Mrs. Betty Helsel in Robeson County, North Carolina. He was a beloved member of his community, leaving behind his daughter Nal’yah Jadiel Carter of Lumberton, stepdaughters Cheyenne Oxendine and Precious Oxendine of Red Springs, his brother James Brandon Helsel of Greensboro, and his grandparents James and Betty Brooks
of Pembroke.
On the evening of June 2, 2020, Gary Justin Helsel was found dead from a gunshot wound at a home on Chad Drive in Pembroke. The incident, which also left two other family members injured, was described by deputies as an altercation between family members. Multiple firearms and a knife were seized during the investigation.
Ryan Franklin Locklear, a 23-year-old male from Fairmont, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Despite the severity of the incident, no charges were filed related to the shooting itself, although the reasons for this decision were not made clear by the authorities.
The investigation into Gary Justin Helsel's death revealed a complex and tragic family dispute. The Robeson County District Attorney's Office was involved in the discussions, but the lack of charges related to the shooting left many questions unanswered. The community mourned the loss of Gary, a young man whose life was cut short under such violent circumstances.
