Anthony Ray Brown, a 49-year-old African American male, was found dead on October 31, 2015, in Rowland, North Carolina. Brown, along with another victim, Michael Thompson, was discovered at a residence on Brown Street. The police investigation revealed that both men had been shot in what appeared to be a robbery.
Two suspects, Gerry Devonta Quick and Christopher Lademaien Brown, were arrested and charged with the murders.
Quick, a 23-year-old male, and Brown, a 29-year-old male, faced multiple charges, including first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and felony conspiracy. The arrests were made possible through coordinated efforts between various law enforcement agencies, including the Rowland Police Department, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Robeson County Sheriff's Office.
The investigation revealed that Christopher Brown had a criminal history, including convictions for discharging a firearm into occupied property, indecent liberties with a child, and breaking and entering. Following the murders, Christopher Brown was shot multiple times in an unrelated incident and was subsequently transferred to Central Prison in Raleigh for safekeeping.
Gerry Quick, who was also involved in a separate robbery in 2013, faced additional charges of attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, and conspiracy. In 2017, Quick was further charged with felony interfering with a state's witness and obstruction of justice for attempting to bribe witnesses to escape the charges against him.
The deaths of Anthony Ray Brown and Michael Thompson marked the first murders in Rowland since 2008 and the first double-homicide in the town in at least 17 years. The community's commitment to law enforcement played a crucial role in solving the case, with valuable tips received even before the crime scene was fully processed. The District Attorney's Office is considering seeking the death penalty for the suspects.
