Ronnie Lebert Kelly, a 27-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on February 23, 2020, in Clarkton, North Carolina. The incident occurred in a single-wide mobile home located at 71 Tina Lane, a cul-de-sac off N.C. 211. Ronnie Lebert Kelly was one of three victims in a shooting that also claimed the lives of Katrice Lacole Murchison, a 30-year-old African American female, and Guy Lennon Barden Jr., a 60-year-old African American male. A fourth individual, 69-year-old Hazel Epps, survived the shooting.
The suspect in this tragic event, Taurean Reshaul Johnson, a 36-year-old African American male from Clarkton, surrendered to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office shortly after the incident. Johnson was charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. He was held without bond and made his first court appearance via video conference on February 24, 2020. Judge Scott Ussery appointed James Payne as Johnson’s public defender, and the prosecution was represented by Assistant District Attorney Adam Whitaker.
The Bladen County 911 Center received a call about 1:30 a.m. on February 23, 2020, reporting that a man had entered the home on Tina Lane and shot several people before fleeing the scene. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing. Johnson's next court hearing was scheduled for March 16, 2020, to determine probable cause. The possibility of capital charges was pending review by the district attorney.
Ronnie Lebert Kelly's death has left a profound impact on the Clarkton community. Funeral services for Kelly were held on March 4, 2020, at the Union Funeral Home Chapel in Clarkton. The community mourned the loss of a young life cut short by senseless violence.
