In the early morning hours of January 2, 2026, a burst of violence shattered the quiet of a Leland, North Carolina neighborhood, leaving 35-year-old Dylan Charles Hennessey dead. The fatal incident, which occurred on Dixie Drive, was the result of a domestic dispute that escalated to gunfire. When Leland Police Department officers responded to a call about a critical incident at approximately 3:30 a.m., they discovered a chaotic scene with three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds.
Hennessey was pronounced deceased at the scene, while the other two injured parties were transported to Novant NHRMC for medical treatment.
Authorities quickly determined that the individuals involved knew each other and that there was no broader threat to the public. One of the two individuals who was injured in the altercation was identified by police as the shooter. The investigation into the deadly encounter was launched, with the Leland Police Department working in conjunction with the Brunswick County District Attorney's Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to piece together the events that led to Hennessey's death.
The investigation culminated in an arrest on January 14, 2026, when 33-year-old Dustin Luke Powers of Wilmington was taken into custody. With the assistance of the Wilmington Police Department, Powers was apprehended in connection with the fatal shooting. He is facing charges of first-degree kidnapping and breaking and entering with intent to terrorize. Following his arrest, Powers was booked into the Brunswick County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond. His first court appearance was scheduled for January 15 in the Brunswick County Courthouse.
