Anthony Scott Beers, a 30-year-old man from Longwood, North Carolina, was tragically shot and killed on December 8, 2017. The incident occurred in an area known as "the quarters" in the Longwood community of Brunswick County. Anthony was found lying on the ground on a dead-end street after being shot at around 6:30 p.m. A woman nearby heard the gunshots and discovered Anthony's body.
His grandmother, who was in the passenger seat of his red pickup truck, was unharmed.
Anthony was taken to a hospital in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he succumbed to his injuries on December 10, 2017. He had been shot in the head at point-blank range, causing irreparable damage to his brain. Despite the efforts of his family, who gathered at his bedside and prayed for his recovery, doctors ultimately declared that there was nothing more they could do. Anthony's organs were harvested to save the lives of others, a decision he had made prior to his death.
The investigation into Anthony's death led to the arrest of Eugene Anthwon Powell, a 24-year-old man from Brunswick County. Powell was charged with first-degree murder and communicating threats. The motive behind the murder was reportedly two-fold: Powell's pride and reputation, as well as a financial motive related to a drug transaction. Anthony owed Powell $40 for cocaine, and Powell had threatened to kill him in the days leading up to the murder.
Powell evaded law enforcement for four days, fleeing to South Carolina before returning to North Carolina, where he was arrested by the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office on December 12, 2017. Powell was found guilty of first-degree murder by a Brunswick County jury and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Summer Lynn Gray, a 23-year-old woman from Supply, was also charged with accessory after the fact of murder for allegedly helping Powell escape to South Carolina and trade a vehicle.
The case was presided over by Brunswick County Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jason C. Disbrow. The prosecution argued that the murder was driven by Powell's desire to maintain his reputation and financial gain. The case highlighted the tragic consequences of drug-related violence and the impact it had on Anthony's family and the community.
