Blaise Joshua Okale-Weeks, an 18-year-old male, tragically lost his life on February 22, 2019, in Greenville, North Carolina. Blaise was a young African American man who had been residing in Greenville for about a month before his untimely death. He was originally from Raleigh, North Carolina. Blaise's death was a result of a shooting incident that occurred at 1808 B Kennedy Circle in Greenville. The shooting took place around 4:37 p.m. on that fateful Friday.
Alongside Blaise, another teenager, 15-year-old Daceion Sanders, also lost his life in the same incident.
The Greenville Police Department quickly identified and arrested two suspects in connection with the shooting. Raeshawn Lamont Reid, 18, and Dexter Javonta Daniels, 19, both from Greenville, were taken into custody on February 23, 2019. Both suspects were charged with two counts of second-degree murder. If convicted, they face the possibility of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or even the death penalty. The police have not released any information regarding the motive behind the shootings, and the investigation is ongoing.
The suspects, Reid and Daniels, appeared before a judge on February 25, 2019. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Daniels had been assigned a court-appointed attorney. Both suspects had their bonds set at $4 million each and were scheduled to return to court on March 13, 2019. The Greenville Police Department's Violent Crime Apprehension Unit played a crucial role in locating and apprehending the suspects with the assistance of the Greenville Police Emergency Response Team.
Blaise's death has left a profound impact on his family and friends. He is survived by his mother, Dr. Christine Edith Weeks, his father, Blaise G. Okale, and his sisters, Vanessa Okale-Weeks and Anne-Yael Okale-Weeks. The family held a visitation and funeral service at the Triangle Church of Christ in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, followed by an interment at Raleigh Memorial Park. The community continues to mourn the loss of Blaise Joshua Okale-Weeks, a young life taken too soon.
