Cash reward being offered for info in Matthews homicide case
A man from Kannapolis was found dead inside a car this week when Matthews Police officers responded to a crash near an apartment complex.
According to the Matthews Police Department, officers got a report around 1:20 p.m. Tuesday about a single-vehicle crash on 2008 Moore Road, which is just off E. Independence Boulevard. When the police got there, they found the driver unconscious.
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First responders found that the driver had a “single gunshot wound to his head.” They tried life-saving measures, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was identified as 27-year-old Dashawn Ray Gene Dean.
Police are offering an award of up to $5,000 in cash in exchange for information about this case.
It’s not clear where and when Dean was shot. Matthews Police confirmed to Channel 9 that the department is investigating Dean’s death as a homicide.
Channel 9′s Hunter Sáenz spoke with a friend of Dean’s, and he said the news of Dean’s killing was hard to believe.
“Dashawn was the kind of guy I admire and respect,” said Jordan McClain. “He would walk into a room and light up the room with his positive energy, his smile.”
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Matthews Police tell Channel 9 they don’t think this is a random shooting, and investigators are poring through the evidence to piece together Matthews’ first homicide of the year.
“We do believe that it’s a known party,” said Tim Aycock with the Matthews Police Department. “We’re looking at surveillance cameras, all the CCTV cameras in the area.”
Meanwhile, McClain is lamenting the loss of his friend.
“Who could do this to this great person, this great man?” McClain said.
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