A North Carolina man streaming himself on Facebook Live captured the moment he was gunned down. Police are now hunting his killer. Prentis Robinson had just been to nearby Wingate Police Department headquarters to report a phone stolen by a relative, reported local TV station WSOC.
As the 55-year-old musician walked home in Wingate at around 10 a.m. on February 26, filming his journey using a selfie stick and broadcasting it live on Facebook, he encountered another man. They exchanged words, with Robinson telling him "you on Live," before gunshots are heard and the camera spins to the floor.
Wingate Police Department identified the suspect as 65-year-old Douglas Cleveland Colson and issued a warrant for his arrest on a murder charge. Neighbors said Robinson used social media to discuss local disputes, reported NBC Charlotte, and they fear this was a factor in his murder. He also reportedly used his social media accounts to out local drug dealers.
Just in—warrants are out for Douglas Colson for the murder of Prentis Robinson in Wingate today. Police believe Colson who is from Marshville, shot Robinson on College Street today while Robinson was on Facebook Live possibly “outing” Local suspected drug dealers. pic.twitter.com/bzfBlwQsnX
— Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) February 27, 2018
Wingate police chief Donnie Gay told WSOC he was with Robinson moments before the homicide. "I'd just spoke to him, it was, I just... it's hard to say anything about that. I just got through talking to him," Gay said.
Gay told NBC Charlotte that Robinson had eight siblings and is well known locally for his Facebook videos in which he took "it upon himself to clean up this area".
The shooting on Jerome Street sparked a short campus lockdown at nearby Wingate University over fears an active shooter was on the loose.
Wingate Police chief Donnie Gay says the victim, Prentis Robinson was just at the police Dept talking with him about a stolen cell phone, two minutes before he was shot. “I don’t know what to say about that.” The chief said. pic.twitter.com/nzpKnsD0L9
— Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) February 26, 2018
Facebook removed the footage of Robinson's killing from his page, though his other videos remain up. Underneath his most recent video, posted on February 25, tributes to poured in for Robinson, who recently celebrated his birthday.
"Prentis we still love you and you will definitely be missed," wrote Julie Elliott Lane.
"Happy birthday man, RIP you was crazy as hell and always had me and Kasha rolling," posted Brooke Makayla.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Shane Croucher is a Senior Editor based in London, UK. He oversees the My Turn team. He has previously overseen ... Read more
