Davion Orlando Newby, an 18-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on August 10, 2019, in Sanford, North Carolina. The incident occurred at the Econo Lodge located at 1403 N. Horner Blvd. Davion and his brother, Rahki Orentheo Newby, a 19-year-old African American male, were both shot inside a hotel room. Davion was pronounced dead at the scene, while Rahki was airlifted to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill in critical condition.
A third victim, Malik Jamen Percell, a 16-year-old African American male, was also found to have sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
The perpetrator, Randall Joseph Craven, a 16-year-old Caucasian male, was arrested the day after the shootings. Craven was charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of possession of a handgun by a minor. He was taken to Lee County Jail, where he was held without bond. Craven later made an Alford plea to second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon, acknowledging that the prosecution had enough evidence for a conviction without admitting guilt. As part of the plea deal, two charges of attempted first-degree murder and a charge for possession of a handgun by a minor were dismissed.
The court proceedings revealed that Craven's mother had dropped him off at a party at the Econo Lodge, which he had learned about through Snapchat. Craven stated that he did not know anyone in the room and felt threatened by individuals who were flashing guns. He claimed that he acted in self-defense, shooting Davion Newby first because he felt threatened by him, and then shooting Rahki Newby because he believed Rahki would retaliate. Craven then fled the scene and lost his shoes and gun in the woods.
Craven's attorney, Fred D. Webb, objected to Craven's confession, citing the 4th, 5th, and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution, but the objection was denied. Craven was sentenced to 13 to 16.67 years in the North Carolina Department of Corrections, with credit for 1,556 days in jail. He was also ordered to complete five years of supervised probation upon his release and to pay a civil judgment for attorney's fees. Craven was ordered to have no contact with Rahki Newby, who survived the shooting but remained in critical condition for some time.
The case highlighted the issue of gun violence among young people in the area, with community members expressing concern over the increasing number of incidents involving firearms. Henry Frank McLean, Davion Newby's grandfather, lamented the loss of young lives and the impact of gun violence on families and communities. The tragic events of that night left a lasting impact on the Sanford community, as they grappled with the senseless loss of a young life and the ongoing challenges of addressing gun violence.
