Kendra Janice Norman, a 27-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on May 7, 2017, in Plymouth, North Carolina. Kendra was living with her one-year-old son at the home of Robert La’Shaun Holley's parents on 4th Street in Plymouth. On the night of her death, Kendra was asked to leave the residence by Holley's father. Despite this, she remained in the home with her child.
Around 10:25 p.m., Robert La’Shaun Holley entered the house with a handgun and confronted Kendra, demanding that she leave. When Kendra refused, Holley shot her in the left chest area, resulting in her immediate death. Kendra was pregnant at the time, and her unborn child, estimated to be 10-11 weeks old, also died as a result of the shooting.
Robert La’Shaun Holley, who was 32 years old at the time, was arrested on May 11, 2017, and charged with first-degree murder and the felony murder of an unborn child. He was placed in the Washington County Detention Center under a $1,500,000 secure bond. During the trial, Holley claimed that he had been involved in drug deals and was not present at the scene of the crime. However, the State presented cellular telephone records that placed Holley in the Plymouth area at the time of the murder. Additionally, a text message from Holley's brother advised him not to get a room in his name, further implicating him in the crime.
The trial revealed that Holley's parents, who were also present in the home at the time of the shooting, heard gunshots but did not witness the actual shooting. An eyewitness inside the home testified that Holley had argued with Kendra before shooting her. Holley was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder for the deaths of Kendra and her unborn child. Superior Court Judge Walter Godwin sentenced Holley to consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Kendra Janice Norman was described as an outgoing person who truly loved her children. She had been staying at the Holley residence after being evicted from her own home. The tragic loss of Kendra and her unborn child left a profound impact on her family and the community.
