Dawson Bryan Thompson, a 21-year-old White man from Mount Gilead, North Carolina, was remembered for his vibrant spirit and genuine love for those around him. Born on June 27, 2003, Dawson grew up with a passion for sports and community service. He was actively involved in the Upward Youth Basketball program and AAU, not only as a player but also as a referee for youth basketball and an umpire for youth baseball.
He was known for his commitment to supporting and uplifting underprivileged youth in his community.
On the afternoon of September 2, 2024, Thompson finished his shift at the Ingles grocery store in Albemarle around 5:15 p.m. He then traveled to Mount Gilead, where he met two juveniles. Surveillance footage captured the meeting, showing one of the teens concealing a long rifle in his pants while the other carried a pistol. The three proceeded to the intersection of Fairview Farm and Zion Church Road. Evidence presented in court suggested that while Thompson was still inside his 2011 Honda, the juvenile in the passenger seat shot him. As Thompson tried to escape his vehicle, he was shot multiple times by both teens.
The assailants stole Thompson’s car and fled, leaving his body in the roadway where a passerby discovered him around 6 p.m. Investigators were able to trace Thompson's recent movements using the "Life360" location-sharing app that his family used. This data led them to the suspects. The evening after the murder, detectives located Thompson's car, which had been abandoned and set on fire in a field at the end of Williams Street in Mount Gilead. They apprehended the two juveniles, aged 14 and 16.
The teens were charged with murder and had their first court appearance on September 7, 2024. During the hearing, a judge denied defense motions to relocate the juveniles or release them on electronic monitoring, citing public safety concerns. A grand jury later returned true bills of indictment against the pair, and their names were released. The suspects, identified as Antonio Dumas, 16, and Cadarien Leake, 14, are being tried as adults in Montgomery County Superior Court.
Funeral services for Dawson Thompson were held on September 8, 2024, at Holly Mount Baptist Church. He is survived by his parents, Matthew Thompson and Tara Lemonds, as well as his siblings, grandparents, and four nephews. As of late October 2024, the cases against both Dumas and Leake were proceeding through the court system.
