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 deceased males inside the vehicle, both with apparent gunshot wounds. The victims were identified as 18-year-old Kentrell Venable and 22-year-old Quavon Unique Champion.
The investigation revealed that both individuals had been shot from inside the vehicle, indicating a targeted attack. On March 6, 2023, authorities arrested three suspects in connection with the murders: 29-year-old Antonio Ray Townes and 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.
Quavon Unique Champion, born on January 29, 2001, in Vance County, was remembered as a beloved son, father, and brother. He is survived by his father, Avon Champion; his children, Journi Champion and Amori Ragland; and multiple siblings. Funeral services were held on February 17, 2023, at Davis-Royster Funeral Service in Henderson, where family and friends gathered to honor his memory.
The tragic deaths of Champion and Venable have deeply affected the Henderson community, prompting discussions about gun violence and safety. As legal proceedings against the accused individuals continue, the community remains united in seeking justice for the victims and supporting their grieving families.
