On April 3, 2023, 35-year-old Byron Lamont Gainey was fatally shot during an altercation at a Dollar Tree store in Durham, North Carolina. The incident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. at the store located in the 1500 block of Glenn School Road. Gainey, a Durham resident and employee of the store, was involved in a verbal dispute with a coworker that escalated into violence. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Durham resident and fellow Dollar Tree employee, Saquan Evans, was taken into custody at the scene. Following an initial investigation, Evans was charged with murder and held at the Durham County Jail without bail.
Gainey had been employed at the Dollar Tree since December 2022 and was quickly promoted to manager. He was known for his friendly demeanor and was well-liked by customers and colleagues. His wife, Tolulope Orenuga, and their six-month-old daughter were left grieving his sudden loss. Orenuga expressed her shock and desire for more information about the circumstances leading to her husband's death.
The tragic incident highlighted concerns about workplace violence and its increasing prevalence. Experts, such as Paul Perryman, Associate Director of Inpatient Psychiatry for UNC Health, have noted a rise in societal anxiety contributing to such events. Perryman emphasized the importance of de-escalation techniques and active listening to prevent conflicts from turning violent.
In the wake of Gainey's death, the community mourned the loss of a dedicated worker and family man. His funeral was held on April 15, 2023, at Woodard Funeral Home Chapel in Greensboro, North Carolina, followed by interment at Lakeview Memorial Park.
