On February 7, 2023, at approximately 8:00 a.m., officers from the Henderson Police Department responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle parked along the roadside in the 200 block of Gholson Avenue in Henderson, North Carolina. Upon arrival, they discovered two male occupants inside the vehicle, both deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. The victims were identified as 18-year-old Kentrell Ny'Zale Venable and 22-year-old Quavon Unique Champion.
The subsequent investigation revealed that the victims had been shot from inside the vehicle, indicating a targeted attack. On March 6, 2023, authorities arrested three individuals in connection with the murders: 29-year-old Antonio Ray Townes, 27-year-old Shyheem Burton, both of Vance County, and 30-year-old Tiffany Greene of Oxford. Each was charged with first-degree murder and held without bond at the Vance County Detention Center.
Kentrell Ny'Zale Venable, born on April 4, 2004, in Vance County, was remembered as a beloved son, brother, and grandson. He is survived by his parents, Latoya Renee Seward and Kentrell Venable; his brother, Me'Siyah K. Venable; and his maternal and paternal grandparents. Funeral services were held on February 16, 2023, at Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church, followed by interment at Blacknall Cemetery.
The tragic deaths of Venable and Champion have left a profound impact on the Henderson community, prompting discussions about gun violence and the safety of local residents. As legal proceedings against the accused individuals continue, the community remains united in seeking justice for the victims and supporting their grieving families.
