Xavier Stevenson, a 19-year-old African American male, was tragically killed on June 29, 2019, in Winnabow, North Carolina. The incident occurred on a secluded dirt road known as Lee Buck Road, where Stevenson and his girlfriend, Myla Payne, also 19, were found dead. The couple had driven to the location to sell marijuana to Logan Neal Young, 19, and Joshua Larmonte Carter, 20, both of whom were former classmates of Stevenson and Payne at South Brunswick High School.
The events leading to the deaths of Stevenson and Payne began with a disagreement between Stevenson and Young over the terms of the marijuana sale. According to the prosecution, Stevenson exited the car to urinate when Young shot him in the back of the head. Young then shot Payne in the back of the head as well. The couple's bodies were discovered by another couple who stumbled upon the scene and called 911.
Logan Neal Young and Joshua Larmonte Carter were both arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon. Young confessed to the murders, stating that he "got mad and shot both of them." During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Young and Carter had planned to rob Stevenson and Payne, stealing five ounces of marijuana and $500 in cash. Young was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Carter pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, receiving a sentence of 73 to 100 months in prison.
The case was prosecuted by Jon David, district attorney for Brunswick, Bladen, and Columbus counties, alongside Assistant District Attorney Jenna Earley. The trial was presided over by Superior Court Judge Bob Roupe, who described the case as "horrible in every sense of the word." The state did not seek the death penalty for either Young or Carter.
