Asheville Man Pleads Guilty in 2020 Wendy's Shooting That Killed Two

Darryl Lyndon Jeffries III pleaded guilty Jan. 28 in Buncombe County Superior Court to two counts of second-degree murder and one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon for a shooting that killed two men in the Wendy’s parking lot on Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville. The victims, Javon Malik Brown, 23, of Asheville, and Deonte James Ellison, 19, of Arden, were shot the night of May 8, 2020.

After the guilty pleas, Judge sentenced Jeffries to 195 to 246 months for the murder counts and 51 to 74 months for the armed robbery charge. The terms will be served concurrently. The sentences equal roughly 16 to 20 years for the murder counts and about 4 to 6 years for the robbery count, but the court record lists the penalties in months as imposed.

Asheville Police Department investigators arrested Jeffries following an investigation that relied on forensic evidence and witness testimony. Prosecutors announced that charges against a co-defendant, Amar Colia Clark, were dismissed for insufficient evidence, though they noted Clark could be reindicted if new evidence emerges. The dismissal leaves open a possibility for renewed legal action but removes an active criminal case against Clark for now.

The killings in May 2020 reverberated across Buncombe County, touching families in Asheville and Arden and reigniting community concern about gun violence along Merrimon Avenue, a well-traveled North Asheville corridor. The guilty pleas conclude a portion of a multi-year investigation and prosecution that relied on modern forensic methods alongside traditional witness accounts. For residents who remember the night or who patronize businesses on Merrimon Avenue, the case underscores the role of local police and prosecutors in pursuing lengthy investigations that can take years to resolve.

Local community leaders and law enforcement have emphasized the need to balance a sense of closure for victims’ families with ongoing attention to public safety. The dismissal of charges against Amar Colia Clark serves as a reminder that some elements of the case remain unresolved, and that prosecutors may reopen aspects of the investigation if new information comes to light.

For Buncombe County residents, the Jeffries sentencing formally addresses the criminal responsibility for the 2020 deaths but also points to continued challenges: preventing gun violence, supporting victims’ families, and maintaining trust in investigative processes that can span years. As the community marks the end of one chapter in this case, potential future developments remain possible should new evidence surface.