On October 7, 2024, 24-year-old Curtis Gregory Lampkin was found deceased in a wooded area near Peachtree Drive in southwest Charlotte, North Carolina. A passerby walking their dog discovered Lampkin's body and alerted authorities. Upon arrival, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers pronounced him dead at the scene, identifying gunshot wounds as the cause of death.
Investigations revealed that prior to his death, Lampkin had been involved in an altercation at a business park on Nations Crossing Road. Surveillance footage showed 41-year-old Shamario Tyeast Bethea striking Lampkin and, with the assistance of 33-year-old Bionnah Jeanna Massey, forcing him into the trunk of a white Dodge Charger. The vehicle was later seen near the location where Lampkin's body was discovered.
On November 12, 2024, following a month-long investigation, CMPD arrested Bethea and Massey. Bethea was charged with murder, kidnapping, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, while Massey faced charges of murder and kidnapping. Both suspects were taken into custody with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service and the Hickory Police Department.
Court documents suggest that the motive behind the crime may have been Massey's belief that Lampkin had stolen from her, leading to the fatal confrontation. Both suspects have prior criminal histories; notably, Bethea was convicted of first-degree rape in 2000 and had been released from prison in 2020 after serving nearly 20 years.
The arrests brought some measure of closure to Lampkin's grieving family and friends, who remembered him as a kind and compassionate individual. The investigation remains active, with authorities urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
