Deonte Jamal Pearsall, a 23-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on June 1, 2017, in Franklin, North Carolina. The incident occurred when Pearsall was shot during a drug deal gone wrong. According to reports, Pearsall and his brother, Dashaun Pearsall, were involved in a transaction with two brothers, Austin Luke Young and Brett Adam Young, from Teachey, North Carolina.
The Young brothers had traveled from Duplin County to Church Street in northern Pender County to sell marijuana to the Pearsall brothers.
During the transaction, Deonte Pearsall, who was unarmed, allegedly robbed Austin Young of the marijuana and attempted to flee the scene. Brett Young, armed with an AR-15 rifle, shot Deonte Pearsall twice in the back from approximately 40 yards away. After Pearsall was felled, the Young brothers approached him, retrieved the marijuana, and attempted to escape the area. However, they were detained at gunpoint by an off-duty Wallace police officer.
Deonte Pearsall succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The Pender County Sheriff's Office responded to the incident and arrested Austin and Brett Young without incident. Both brothers were charged with first-degree murder and held at the Pender County Jail without bond. The case proceeded to court, where Brett Young pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 to 31 years in the Department of Adult Correction. Austin Young, who cooperated with law enforcement, entered a plea of voluntary manslaughter and received a sentence of 64 to 89 months in the Department of Adult Correction.
The tragic death of Deonte Jamal Pearsall highlights the dangers associated with illegal drug transactions and the devastating impact of gun violence. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing the root causes of such incidents and working towards a safer community for all.
