Anthony Domonique Lennon, a 24-year-old African American male, was tragically killed on June 23, 2017, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Lennon, a former East Carolina University football player, was gunned down in the parking lot of Bahama Breeze, a restaurant located on Wake Forest Road. The autopsy revealed that Lennon sustained 19 bullet wounds, with 13 bullets entering his torso, and additional wounds to his neck, limbs, and right leg.
The medical examiner noted that two of the wounds might have been caused by the same bullet passing through the body twice. The cause of death was listed as multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation into Lennon's death revealed that he was likely targeted in retaliation for a drug deal gone wrong. Police reported that a large amount of illegal drugs destined for street sales had been seized by law enforcement, and Lennon appeared to have been marked for death as a result. A woman hired by Lennon was attempting to transport 30 pounds of marijuana on a North Carolina-bound Amtrak train, but the drugs were intercepted. Lennon's involvement in this drug operation ultimately led to his untimely demise.
In the aftermath of Lennon's murder, several individuals were arrested and charged in connection with the crime. Ashanti Rahdee Bennet, a 33-year-old male from Greenville, pled guilty to second-degree murder and received a negotiated sentence of 13 to 17 years in prison. Jamar Vick Allen, Clifton Jason Spellman, and Wantavius Burney Jackson were charged with felony conspiracy to commit murder. Stephanie Owens was charged with accessory after the fact to murder. The investigation into Lennon's death is ongoing, and police continue to seek information from the public to bring all those involved to justice.
Lennon's death had a profound impact on his family, friends, and the ECU community. He was remembered as a dedicated athlete who played in 35 career games as a defensive back for the Pirates from 2011 to 2015. Lennon's uncle, former UVA linebacker Melvin 'Skeet' Jones Jr., expressed his grief and called for an end to the violence that took his nephew's life. Lennon's former high school football teammates launched a GoFundMe account to support his family and establish a college fund for his young son. The East Carolina University athletics department also issued a statement mourning the loss of Lennon and extending condolences to his loved ones.
