William Lee Locklear, a 41-year-old man from Greensboro, NC, was tragically shot and killed on August 12, 2016. Locklear was found at the top of the driveway leading to a vacant home on Forest Brook Drive, having been shot in the head and hand. The incident was later determined to be a robbery gone wrong.
In January 2022, nearly six years after Locklear's death, Greensboro police arrested two men in connection with the murder.
Tamarius Tyshe Merritt, 22, of Greensboro, and Javonn Dequan Riddick, 24, of Winston-Salem, were both charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon. Merritt was held at the Guilford County Jail, while Riddick was held at the Greensville Correctional Center in Virginia.
The investigation into Locklear's death was a lengthy one, with detectives working diligently to gather evidence and identify the suspects. The arrests of Merritt and Riddick brought some measure of closure to Locklear's family and friends, who had been waiting for justice for nearly six years.
Locklear was remembered fondly by his family and friends as a mechanically inclined individual with a passion for fishing. He is survived by his wife Brenda Locklear, his son William Locklear Jr., his daughter Briana Nicole Locklear, and several other family members.
The case highlights the importance of perseverance in criminal investigations and the impact that such tragedies have on the lives of those left behind. Locklear's death serves as a reminder of the need for continued efforts to ensure justice for victims and their families.
