The Charlotte LGBTQ+ community is mourning one of their own this week as 36-year-old Rashawn Gray, known by friends as Booda Boo, was found dead on Sunday, March 23.
The first call came in the early Sunday morning hours to the Pitt County Sherriff’s office about suspicious individuals in the area. Upon investigating, deputies caught sight of two men leaving the woods around Abbott Farm Road and Rountree Road, just outside of Ayden. Both were detained on sight and questioned, right before the deputies said they found a body pinned underneath a vehicle by the road. At this point Gray was identified and pronounced dead on the scene and a likely honicide.
A preliminary investigation suggests that, shortly before 3:30 a.m., 27-year-old Matthew Warren, a man from Buffalo, NY, and Gray were having a dispute before Gray was killed. Warren is currently being held without bond.
The other individual at the scene, 24-year-old Bobby Joyner, was also arrested at the scene and is currently being held on a $250,000 bond. The Pitt County Sherriff’s office has charged Joyner with accessory after the fact of murder, stating that Joyner helped Warren by not “promptly calling for emergency medical assistance or law enforcement.”
Gray’s murder came just hours after he and Warren, also known as Matty Milk, announced their new relationship online on Facebook. Gray posted “Found My Person” at 7 p.m. on Saturday night while Warren also expressed excitement at the union, writing “Okay Y’all I’m Happy Finally Yes I Have A Man” on his page around 9:18pm. As to how long the men knew each other leading up to the incident is still being investigated.
The community around Gray have taken to the victim’s social media, offering up tributes to Gray and his loved ones.
One friend, Jhalisa MzMonroe Spratt, shared memories while responding in disbelief at the reported crime. “Damn Shawn! Looking at your profile pic still don’t seem real,” the post reads. “From Reid Park all the way to Harding you was my round, one of my childhood bestie but we called each other family. I will miss hearing ‘what’s up cousin’ when we catch up or reminiscing about our DC trip in the 5th grade. It’s so strange to say rip bc its so final but may you sleep well friend, you will truly be missed.”
Another friend, Aaron Reinhardt, wrote, “Man this is so heartbreaking. Booda was such a positive beacon of light in and out of the gay community. Definitely gone too soon. Rest easy love! You will be dearly missed.”
As of Tuesday, March 25, an online fundraiser was set up for Gray’s family to cover the Charlotte man’s funeral expenses.
The blurb on the GoFundMe page reads, “Hi my name is Jessica Pierce. On march 23rd we got the devastating news that my cousin Rashawn Gray was tragically taken from this world. We as his family need some help taking care of the funeral arrangements so if you could find it in your heart to help out we would greatly appreciate it. Anything helps.”
As of this writing, no other updates on Gray’s exact cause of death have been revealed by the Pitt County Sherriff’s office, as all investigations surrounding the event are still ongoing.
A Link to the GoFundMe for Gray’s family can be found here. The fundraiser currently has received $2,915 of the $4,000 asked for.