Demarko McEachern, a 20-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on April 26, 2018, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Demarko was known for his lively personality, big heart, and constant smile. He was in the process of turning his life around, having spent a significant portion of his youth in the system. His family and friends remember him as a loving individual who was dedicated to achieving his goals and making a better life for himself.
On the night of his death,
Demarko was at his home on Saint Louis Street when shots were fired from the road into the house. The incident occurred just after midnight, resulting in Demarko's death and the injury of his 70-year-old grandmother, Carolyn McEachern. Carolyn was treated at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and later released.
The suspect in the shooting was identified as Terrance J. Melvin, a 21-year-old male. Warrants were issued for Melvin's arrest on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle, discharging a weapon into occupied property, and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. Melvin was considered armed and dangerous, and law enforcement urged anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forward.
In December 2018, Terrance Melvin was arrested in Savannah, Georgia, by U.S. Marshals. He was taken into custody without incident and remained in the Chatham County Jail pending extradition to North Carolina. The arrest brought some relief to Demarko's family, who had been seeking justice for his untimely death.
