On June 1 in Concord, North Carolina, 47-year-old Lester Jones was fatally shot after intervening in an altercation between his 16-year-old daughter and her 17-year-old boyfriend. The suspect, Keshaun Tirrell Degraffenreid, allegedly opened fire, wounding both victims; the daughter was hospitalized and Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. Degraffenreid was arrested nearby and charged as an adult with first-degree murder and multiple other counts. He appeared in court on June 3 and is due back on June 18.
‘The Ultimate Sacrifice’: Concord Father, 47, Fatally Shot While Protecting 16-Year-Old Daughter
Lester Jones Family; Concord Police Department
A 47-year-old father in Concord, North Carolina, was shot and killed in the early hours of Monday, June 1, after intervening in an argument between his 16-year-old daughter and her boyfriend, local authorities and news outlets reported.
According to WSAZ, when Lester Jones stepped in to protect his daughter, 17-year-old Keshaun Tirrell Degraffenreid allegedly opened fire, striking Jones. The teenager’s girlfriend was also hit and was transported to a nearby hospital; officials have not disclosed her current condition.
Shooting and Arrest
Officers who responded to the scene found both the father and daughter with gunshot wounds. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say Degraffenreid fled on foot but was arrested moments later on a nearby street, the City of Concord Police Department said on Facebook.
Charges and Legal Status
Per WBTV, Degraffenreid, who is 17, has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, misdemeanor domestic violence and resisting officers. He also faces separate counts for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. It was not immediately clear whether he has retained legal counsel or entered a plea.
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Community Reaction
Neighbors expressed shock and sorrow after the fatal shooting. Area resident Josh Elmore told WBTV:
“A father made the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter to protect her, and a 17-year-old kid played a stupid game and decided to use violence.”
Another neighbor, Antonio Brown, said the neighborhood was reeling and questioned how a teenager obtained a firearm:
“Something like that is so close to home. That’s so disappointing. I have lost words for anything else. A 17-year-old is still a child. He shouldn’t have a gun. Why would he have a gun?”
Next Steps
Degraffenreid made his first court appearance on Wednesday, June 3, and is scheduled to return on June 18, according to WBTV. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the shooting.
Sources: WSAZ, WBTV, City of Concord Police Department.
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