Rasheed Lameek Phillips, known affectionately to some as “Meek,” was a young man remembered for the love he shared with his family and friends. A graduate of E.E. Smith High School in his hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina, the 22-year-old Black man was cherished by his parents, Lonnie McGriff and Valerie Lindsey, and was a brother to Cornelius Devale Johnson Jr., Jasmine Valtrice Lindsey, Brittany S. Phillips, Lei'lonnie McGriff, and Aroanna Linsey, as well as three step-siblings. His life was tragically cut short in the early hours of Wednesday, May 12, 2021, leaving a void in the hearts of those who knew him.
Just after midnight, the Fayetteville Police Department received a call about a vehicle that had crashed into a home on Everena Avenue. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a Chrysler minivan that had struck the residence. Inside, slumped in the driver's seat, was Rasheed Phillips. He was unresponsive.
It soon became clear that the crash was not the cause of his death; he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. A second call from the area of Regan Avenue and Everena Drive reporting gunshots confirmed the violent nature of the incident. Emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
The investigation was quickly launched by the Fayetteville Police Department's Homicide Unit. Detectives processed the scene, noting bullet holes in the driver's side door of the minivan, which indicated Rasheed was likely shot while he was driving, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and crash. The case was declared a homicide, and investigators began the search for answers and for the person or people responsible for ending a young life.
Within days of the shooting, detectives announced they had identified a person of interest they believed had crucial information about the case: Ali Abdul-Malik, who was 27 years old at the time. The police publicly asked for assistance in locating him, stating he was wanted for questioning. However, despite this initial lead, there have been no public announcements of any arrests or charges being filed in connection with Rasheed's murder. The trail of information regarding Ali Abdul-Malik went cold, and his connection to the case, if any, remains undisclosed by authorities.
In the days following Rasheed's death, his family held a public viewing on May 18, 2021, at Wiseman Mortuary, allowing friends and community members to pay their final respects. He was later laid to rest at Rockfish Memorial Park. Online memorial pages were filled with messages of love and sorrow. "Rip baby you still a star," one friend wrote. Another shared, "Meek I miss you so much baby I’m lost for words." These tributes paint a picture of a young man who was deeply loved and whose sudden death left a community in mourning.
As of May 2024, the homicide of Rasheed Phillips remains unsolved. The initial naming of a person of interest has not led to a resolution, and his family is still waiting for justice. The Fayetteville Police Department continues to hold the case open. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to contact the Fayetteville Police Department's Homicide Unit or to provide an anonymous tip through Fayetteville / Cumberland County CrimeStoppers.
