On September 15, 2024, at approximately 1:10 a.m., a shooting occurred near the City Café in Williamston, North Carolina, resulting in the death of 26-year-old Dontrell Ra'Kwan Bonds. Officers monitoring a large crowd near the establishment heard multiple gunshots, but initial attempts to locate victims or witnesses were unsuccessful as the crowd dispersed.
Shortly thereafter, at around 1:39 a.m., authorities responded to a call at Cherry's Cupboard in the Bear Grass community, where they found Bonds suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to ECU Health in Greenville, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Investigations revealed that Bonds had been involved in an altercation with two individuals, identified as brothers Tyrene Griffin, 42, and Willie Smallwood, 34, prior to the shooting. On September 20, Griffin was arrested and charged with an open count of murder. Smallwood remained at large until October 1, when he was apprehended at the Belle Meade apartment complex in Greenville with assistance from the Greenville Police Department and the SBI Fugitive Task Force. Both brothers faced charges related to Bonds' death.
Bonds, affectionately known as "Donnie G," was a father of two and a passionate hip-hop artist from Williamston. He graduated from Riverside High School in 2018 and was employed at World Cat in Tarboro at the time of his passing. His death not only marked a tragic loss for his family and friends but also underscored concerns about gun violence in the Williamston community.
The Williamston Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and has urged anyone with additional information to come forward. The arrests of Griffin and Smallwood have provided some measure of progress in the case, but authorities remain committed to ensuring that all aspects of the event are thoroughly examined to bring justice for Bonds and his loved ones.
A video report on the incident is available for further details.
