Emmanuwell Leigh Nelson, a 17-year-old African American male known to friends and family as Eman, was shot and killed on December 2, 2018, on Hillandale Drive in Spring Lake, North Carolina. The fatal shooting occurred outside the home of Earl Rafel Gaddis.

At the time of his death Emmanuwell was facing second-degree murder charges in connection with the November 13, 2017, accidental shooting of 15-year-old Owen Caltagirone and was scheduled to appear in Harnett County Superior Court on December 17, 2018. Two people were arrested in Emmanuwell’s death: 19-year-old Earl Rafel Gaddis and 16-year-old Dylan Michael Gaddis, who lived on Hillandale Drive; both were charged with murder and discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling or moving vehicle. Earl Gaddis was also out on bail on unrelated murder and weapons charges from a separate fatal shooting in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The circumstances combine ongoing legal troubles for both the victim and the suspects and underline youth gun violence in the community. If anyone knew Emmanuwell or has information about the shooting, please come forward.