In the early morning hours of March 12, 2023, a sense of unease settled over Qiantas McCary as her 20-year-old son, Christopher, prepared to leave their North Las Vegas home. A late-night request from his best friend, Paul Abercrombie, had Christopher heading out, despite his mother's premonition. Reassuring her that it was "just Paul" and there was nothing to worry about, he left to hang out for a little while, a decision that would tragically be his last.
The two young men, who had been close since middle school and even called each other "twin brothers," were about to have their friendship irrevocably shattered.
Later that Sunday morning, the life of Christopher Jaylen Javon McCary, a young Black man with a bright smile and a kind heart, was violently cut short. He was found dead in an apartment on H Street, having been shot six times and stabbed three times. The tragic discovery was made after Abercrombie, also 20, appeared at University Medical Center with several wounds of his own. It was there that he admitted to shooting McCary, claiming a struggle had ensued over a gun.
The aftermath of Christopher's death sent ripples of shock and grief through his family and friends. Remembered as a "hustler" who was ambitious and hardworking, Christopher was studying criminal justice at the College of Southern Nevada and held jobs at T.J. Maxx and Amazon warehouses. He had a creative side, dabbling in interior design, making clothes, and producing music. His girlfriend, Ajanae Lehmann, recalled his dreams of getting married, buying a house, and having four children. He was a provider for his family, always making sure they were taken care of.
In the wake of the tragedy, Paul Abercrombie was arrested and charged with open murder with a deadly weapon. According to the arrest report, Abercrombie claimed to have been under the influence of psilocybin mushrooms at the time of the incident. For Christopher's mother, the arrest of her son's best friend was a devastating blow, making the senseless loss even harder to comprehend. The promising life of a young man, known for his generosity and deep love for his family, was extinguished, leaving behind a void filled with questions and profound sorrow.
