On May 5, 2023, at about 8:25 p.m., deputies responded to a shooting at 129 Parnell Road near Lumberton, North Carolina, and found 27-year-old Donald Ray Williams of Wagram dead from gunshot wounds. Authorities identified 33-year-old Kenneth J. Mitchell of Lumberton as the primary suspect and charged him with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and discharging a weapon in an enclosure to incite fear. Mitchell was taken into custody during a traffic stop on May 15, 2023, and held without bond.

Williams, born September 23, 1995, in Scotland County, was remembered by family as hardworking, loyal, and someone who enjoyed fishing, driving fast, and outdoor activities. The motive and the nature of any relationship between Williams and Mitchell have not been disclosed, and the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Division is still investigating. If anyone has information about the shooting or the events leading up to it, please come forward.