Richard Abernathy was 20 when he was shot and killed on July 16, 2017, at The Oaks apartments on Balthis Drive in Gastonia, North Carolina. He and his girlfriend had gone to meet buyers after a phone contact; what began as a drug sale of Xanax and marijuana turned into an ambush. Two men—Kevin Goodwin and Jonqae Griggs—emerged from behind a dumpster, pulled Abernathy and his girlfriend from the car, and a rifle was held to Abernathy’s chest; he was struck by two fatal shots.

Prosecutors say the motive was robbery and that four people had planned to rob Abernathy during the deal. All four involved were arrested and charged with murder. Kevin Goodwin later entered an Alford plea to second-degree murder and solicitation regarding a key witness and received a prison term with credit for 920 days served; Jahqualyn Goode pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received 13 years; Dawan Myers pleaded to conspiracy to commit robbery and received probation; Jonqae Griggs was sentenced to at least 216 months. The guilty pleas were reported to have brought some closure to Abernathy’s family and the community.

Did anyone in Gastonia know Richard or have information about the events at The Oaks on July 16, 2017?