Crystal Elizabeth Randolph Brown, 54, was shot to death at a residence on Melrose Avenue in Roanoke, Virginia, on September 17, 2023. The same shooting also killed 31-year-old Rodrel Mann Mathis. The community held vigils and tributes, and Crystal’s funeral took place October 7, 2023, at Serenity Funeral Home.

Investigators say the shooting followed the arrival of someone to conduct an illegal narcotics transaction, which turned into a fatal argument. Authorities identified Edward Denoyer as the alleged perpetrator; he was located and arrested in South Dakota after more than a month on the run and charged with six felonies, including two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Brown and Mathis. Denoyer is being held in a South Dakota jail pending extradition to Virginia.

Crystal’s family remembered her as fun-loving, compassionate, and a devoted mother who was seeking help for substance abuse and mental health issues and had an appointment for treatment. If anyone knew Crystal, Rodrel, or has information about the shooting on Melrose Avenue, please share what you know.