Dareon Tyrese Cook, an 18-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on September 5, 2017, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The incident occurred in the parking lot of Smokey Bones Restaurant on Skibo Road. Around 11:50 p.m., officers from the Fayetteville Police Department discovered Dareon and another victim, Jonathan David Goodman, 32, in a stationary vehicle during a routine business check. Both individuals had sustained gunshot wounds.
Dareon was pronounced dead at the scene, while Jonathan was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation revealed that the motive behind the shooting was robbery. Three suspects were arrested and charged in connection with the incident. Ferris Brown, 20, and Javier Rashad Johnson, 19, both active-duty soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg, along with Daivon Tahjai Chambers, 19, from Fayetteville, were charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery. The suspects were acquainted with the victims prior to the incident, indicating that this was not a random act of violence.
The case garnered significant attention due to the involvement of active-duty military personnel. The suspects appeared in Cumberland County court, where they were ordered to be held without bond. The District Attorney mentioned that the case could potentially be a death penalty case, given the severity of the crime and the loss of two lives.
The families of both victims attended the court proceedings, expressing their grief and the impact of the tragedy on their lives. The investigation continued to unfold, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward to aid in the pursuit of justice for Dareon Tyrese Cook and Jonathan David Goodman.
