Four teens have been charged in connection to killing a high school student during a house party, North Carolina authorities said.
Investigators said 16-year-old Keedon Lewis was fatally shot around 3 a.m. March 8 at a party near Rowland, North Carolina, a small town about 110 miles south of Raleigh, according to The Charlotte Observer. Now, authorities have arrested a 15-year-old, two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old in connection with the incident.
These teens, whose names have not been made public, are facing charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder and felony conspiracy, the Observer reports.
Lewis’ father previously told WPDE his son was killed in a field near his home, and that the killing was shared across social media.
“They posted my kid on social media,” Brandon Lewis said. “They got my kid going around on Snap[chat], laying in that field.”
“You don’t need a gun. Put the gun down. In fact, be a man,” he added. “The world just crazy right now in this. It’s something that needs to come to an end.”
Lewis was an 11th-grade student known for his “humorous, enthusiastic and clever personality,” according to an online obituary.
“He had a deep love for hunting and fishing where he found peace and could be in an environment that characterized part of who he was,” the obituary reads. “Keedon also loved riding anything with wheels, singing his heart out and giving that old truck of his a run for its money.”
Zachariah Hunt, who knew Lewis, told WDPE he was an “amazing person” who was “always making you smile.” Another friend, David Fipps, said it’s “never going to be the same” without him.
Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins reportedly called the situation “heartbreaking.” The local school district also shared a tribute to the teen on Facebook.
“Please join us in prayer for the family of Keedon Lewis, a Purnell Swett High School student who passed away recently,” the Public Schools of Robeson County said in a statement. “We are deeply saddened for his family. Please also pray for the school and community as they navigate this difficult time of loss.”
The Independent has contacted the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
