Shawn Roane was a 53-year-old entrepreneur and carpenter from King William County, Virginia, and a graduate of King William High School. He was a Black man known in his community whose life ended in late spring 2024.

On the evening of Thursday, May 16, 2024, deputies responded to multiple 911 calls and arrived at the 2200 block of Mt. Olive Cohoke Road at 8:46 p.m. They found Roane inside a vehicle with a fatal gunshot wound; King William County Fire and EMS pronounced him dead at the scene. A 61-year-old man, Donald Dabney of King William County, was present when officers arrived, cooperated with investigators, and was taken into custody.

Dabney was charged with possession of a firearm by a non-violent felon and ordered held without bail, and investigators said more charges were pending. The King William County Sheriff’s Office asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact them at 804-769-0999.

If anyone knew Shawn Roane or has information about what happened that night, please contact the sheriff’s office.