•Devon Terrell Brown, 23, of Woodyard Road, Riegelwood, killed early Sunday in former girlfriend’s home after he broke in and attacked man protecting her from victim.

By BOB HIGH
Staff Writer

A Riegelwood man was shot and killed early Sunday after he broke into his former girlfriend’s home and attacked a Pender County man who was staying with the woman to provide “protection,” according to Sheriff Chris Batten.

Devon Terrell Brown, 23, of Woodyard Road, died in the mobile home of Ashley Nicole Brown at the end of Robbie’s Lane, a potholed dirt road off Old Lake Road near N.C. 87.

“We’ll send a report to the district attorney and let them decide what to do,” said Sheriff’s Detective Captain David Nobles.

Terrell Brown and Ashley Brown were in a relationship for about five years, and this was broken off within the last 60 days, according to Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Coleman’s report about the 5:33 a.m. shooting.

Coleman related the following:

David Lamont “Dee” Simmons, 35, of Slocum Trail, Atkinson – described as Ashley Brown’s “uncle” -- and Ashley were asleep in the front left bedroom when Simmons was awakened as Ashley shouted, “Oh my God, Dee!”

Attacked on bed

Simmons awoke and was hit in the top of his head by an unknown object. He grabbed the person attacking him – who had broken into the home by the back door -- and they rolled onto the floor.

The victim and Simmons fought on the floor, and Simmons managed to grab his .38-caliber pistol and fired two shots, trying to hit his attacker in his legs, but both shots missed.

Simmons grabbed the man with his left arm, pulled him close and fired a third shot into his right side. He rolled the attacker off him, went to the kitchen and put the gun on the counter.

Simmons returned to the bedroom where the victim was on the floor, and saw that the man had quit breathing. Simmons rolled him over to begin CPR and saw a machete and tire tool under his body.

Deputy Coleman said when he entered he checked for a pulse on the victim, could find none, and asked for immediate assistance from the Acme Delco Riegelwood Rescue Squad.

Brown ‘chased off’

Devon Terrell Brown was taken to New Hanover Medical Center where he was declared dead.

Coleman said the pistol, with three shots fired and three rounds still in the weapon, was recovered from the kitchen.

Coleman noted that the victim had been “chased off” by Simmons and Ashley Brown at 2 a.m. Sunday, after he appeared outside and beat on the bedroom windows.

Ashley Brown told Coleman she had been harassed and “stalked” by her former boyfriend for several weeks. SBI Agent Josh Hickman assisted in the investigation.
This is Columbus County’s third homicide this year. The first death was that of Purdie James Vereen, 44, of Stanley Circle, Whiteville, killed by an unknown person at 12:45 a.m. on March 9.

Robert Allen Bellamy II, 35, of Chadbourn, died on April 14 from a shot the day before that damaged the femoral artery of his left leg. He was shot at 11:26 p.m. in front of Gary Fennell Robinson’s Jackson Street home in Chadbourn. Robinson, 45, has been charged with murder in a dispute reported to be over $10 Bellamy owed Robinson.
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