Robeson County authorities responded to a rural home near Josie Lane and Kitchen Street Road outside Rowland early Sunday morning March 8, 2026 after reports of a shooting at a house party. Deputies arrived around 3:10 a.m. and found 16-year-old Keedon Lewis of Lumberton deceased at the scene from a gunshot wound.
The gathering had drawn several teens to the property in this quiet farming area of Robeson County where homes sit along gravel roads and open fields. Keedon had been attending the get together with others he considered friends when the violence erupted leaving him fatally wounded in a field just steps from the main house.
Keedon Lewis attended Purnell Swett High School in Pembroke and was a proud member of the Lumbee nation. He stood out as a bright and lively young man full of adventure and excitement who loved to hunt and fish while pouring his energy into restoring an old 1976 Ford pickup truck. Teachers remembered him as a one of a kind student always having fun and connecting easily with classmates through his genuine charisma and respectful nature.
Those closest to Keedon highlighted his deep love for family and friends along with his passion for outdoor activities and cars that defined his daily life in the Lumberton and Rowland area. He gave unforgettable hugs that made recipients feel loved from head to toe and lived fully in the moment chasing thrills while laughing loudly. His spirit was unmatched and his presence brought constant warmth to the tight knit Lumbee community and Purnell Swett High School where he excelled both academically and in his personal pursuits.
The tragedy unfolded when an argument at the party escalated and shots were fired with Keedon caught in the violence as other attendees watched and some recorded the aftermath on social media. His father Brandon Lewis spoke out publicly expressing heartbreak over what he described as a setup noting that a field full of people knew what happened and plotted against his son before posting images on platforms like Snapchat.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office continues its active homicide investigation into the March 8 shooting at the rural home near Josie Lane and Kitchen Street Road urging anyone who attended the party or has information to contact detectives at 910 671 3100. Multiple teens have since been arrested and charged in connection with the incident as authorities piece together the events that claimed Keedon’s life.
Purnell Swett High School and the broader Lumbee community in Robeson County have activated grief resources for students and residents while honoring Keedon’s memory through private tributes and calls for greater awareness around youth safety at gatherings.
Friends and family continue sharing stories of his kind heart and adventurous spirit reminding everyone of the bright young life taken far too soon on that rural property outside Rowland. As the investigation advances the focus remains on supporting those left behind and seeking accountability for the violence that ended Keedon Lewis’s promising future.