A quiet Saturday evening in Como, North Carolina, was shattered by a violent family dispute that left a young man dead. On August 8, 2026, 24-year-old Zaquan Dotson of Boykin, Virginia, was fatally shot at a residence on Bowles Place. The Hertford County Sheriff's Office received a call around 8:11 p.m. reporting a domestic argument involving Zaquan Dotson and his mother, Jaquetta Dotson. While deputies were en route, a second call informed them the situation had escalated to a shooting.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered Zaquan Dotson suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The initial call to authorities was reportedly made by Zaquan's brother, Quazae Dotson, who was off-duty from his position as a deputy with the Southampton County Sheriff's Office in Virginia. Deputies detained Quazae Dotson at the scene in connection with his brother's death. The young man's death has been categorized as a result of gun violence.
The investigation into Zaquan Dotson's death is being handled by the Hertford County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. While Quazae Dotson was detained for questioning, no formal charges had been filed against him as of the days immediately following the incident. In response to the event, the Southampton County Sheriff's Office placed Quazae Dotson on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The mother of the two brothers, Jaquetta Dotson, sustained injuries during the dispute and was treated at a local hospital before being released. The case remains an active investigation as authorities work to uncover the full circumstances that led to the tragic death of a young man during a family conflict.
