Donovan Butler, a 25-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on April 5, 2020, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The incident occurred during a large gathering at a residence on Pavilion Drive. Fayetteville Police were dispatched to the scene shortly after 1:45 a.m. following reports of shots fired. Butler was subsequently transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center with a gunshot wound, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into Donovan Butler's
death led to the arrest of two men from Elizabethtown. Antonio Lamel Murchison, 26, and Eric Christopher Bennett, 33, were charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting. Murchison was apprehended in Bladen County, while Bennett was arrested in Warsaw. Both suspects were held at the Cumberland County Detention Center without bail. The arrests were made with the assistance of the State Bureau of Investigation, the Bladen County Sheriff's Office, and the Warsaw Police Department.
The Fayetteville Police Department has urged anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation. The tragic loss of Donovan Butler has left a profound impact on his family, friends, and the community.
