Shakeem Devonte Avent, an 18-year-old African American male, was shot and killed on April 13, 2011, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He was driving a burgundy Cadillac and was struck while approaching the intersection of Sunset Avenue and Lee Street. The gunshot caused him to lose control, collide with a white BMW and then crash into a brick wall. Bystanders attempted to help, but he was pronounced dead when the Rocky Mount Police Department arrived.

The medical examiner determined the chest gunshot wound was the cause of death. Police received calls reporting gunshots in the area around the time of the wreck and have treated the death as a homicide. Authorities sought to question two men, Antonio Vantron Richardson, 20, and James Raimey Jr., 21; Richardson was also wanted on an unrelated marijuana possession warrant. No arrests have been made and the case remains unsolved. Team Cold Case has offered up to a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

If anyone has information about the shooting or the events near Sunset Avenue and Lee Street that evening, please come forward to assist the investigation.