Malik Khalid Etheridge, a 19-year-old African American male from Edenton, North Carolina, tragically lost his life on September 17, 2016. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when Etheridge was found with a single gunshot wound to the head at the Wedgewood Apartments on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The police were alerted to the scene by an officer who heard the gunshot while on patrol.
The investigation revealed that Etheridge was in the driver's seat of a
vehicle when his close friend, 21-year-old Darian Copeland, accidentally discharged a .357 magnum pistol from the back seat, striking Etheridge in the back of the head. Copeland, who immediately turned himself in to the Edenton Police Department, admitted to the accidental shooting. He expressed deep remorse for the incident, stating that he did not mean to harm his friend.
Etheridge, who was a young father, left behind a daughter. His death shocked and saddened the community, with family and friends expressing their grief and disbelief over the tragic loss. Copeland was charged with involuntary manslaughter and was held at the Chowan County Jail under a $100,000 bond.
The case highlighted the dangers of handling firearms and the devastating impact of accidental shootings. The community mourned the loss of a young life full of potential and the tragic circumstances that led to his untimely death. The incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of gun safety and the need for responsible firearm ownership.
