On December 1, 2023, at approximately 8:30 p.m., the Craven County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported shooting at 1465 B Street in the Bridgeton community near New Bern, North Carolina. The 911 caller, who managed to escape the residence, reported that her husband had shot her parents and remained inside the home.
Upon arrival, deputies entered the residence and discovered the bodies of an elderly couple in the kitchen, both deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.
The victims were identified as 88-year-old Billy Dean Rhoades and his wife, 87-year-old Louise Meadows Rhoades. In the garage, officers found 53-year-old Younge Enhart Sherrell Jr., the son-in-law of the victims, suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to CarolinaEast Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
Investigations revealed that Sherrell had been exhibiting intermittent psychotic behavior over the two months leading up to the incident, including hearing voices, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and agitation. On the evening of the tragedy, he was observed becoming increasingly agitated, appearing to argue with unseen entities while alone in the backyard. Shortly after, he entered the home and fatally shot his in-laws as they were finishing dinner in the kitchen. His wife, the daughter of the victims, managed to flee and seek help from a neighbor.
The case has been classified as a double homicide followed by suicide. Authorities reported no prior history of arguments or threats between Sherrell and the Rhoades, and no clear motive has been established for the shootings. The investigation concluded with the determination that Sherrell acted alone in the commission of these tragic events.
