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One man dead in Powhatan, another is charged with second degree murder
Published: May 13, 2010
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Dennis Edward Merchant, Jr., 19, was arraigned in Powhatan District Court Friday morning on charges of second degree murder and malicious wounding.


By Michael Copley
Powhatan Today

One man is dead in Powhatan and another has been charged with murder and malicious wounding after an altercation at a home on Bell Road May 13.

Rashad Brown,19, was fatally stabbed at a home in the 4700 block of Bell Road. He died in the parking lot of the Powhatan Post Office on Route 60 after being driven there by a friend. 

Dennis Edward Merchant, Jr.,19, was arraigned in Powhatan District Court Friday morning on charges of second degree murder and malicious wounding. Merchant indicated he will hire his own attorney, said Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Richard Cox. A date for a preliminary hearing has not yet been set.

A second victim, who reportedly tried to break up an argument between Brown and Merchant, was transported with non life threatening injuries. Merchant was treated in an ambulance on Bell Road for a non life threatening injury and then transported to the Sheriff’s Office.

At approximately 3:15 p.m. on may 13, Powhatan Deputies responded to a reported stabbing at a home in the 4700 block of Bell Road. At the same time, deputies responded to reports of a fight in the parking lot of the Powhatan Post Office on Route 60.

By about 4 p.m., deputies had surrounded the home where the altercation took place. There were initial reports of a possible standoff. A tactical team comprising officers from Powhatan and Goochland Counties entered the house at about 6:15 p.m. and found no one inside.

Shawn Harris, 21, who knew Brown, said the stabbing occurred after an argument at the house on Bell Road. He indicated that the stabbing happened inside the home.

Brown was reportedly transported to the post office because the driver’s father is employed there and the driver didn’t think Brown would survive a wait for an ambulance.

Merchant faces unrelated misdemeanor charges of obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana and disorderly conduct for an incident that occurred May 11.

Powhatan Today will continue to update this story as more details become available.

—Roslyn Ryan contributed to this report


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Reader Comments


concerned too of Powhatan
Jan. 13, 2011, 03:28 PM

After what I heard that happened from someone who was there I’m concerned too. I’m not on either side because I was friends with both but that’s just some whack stuff that happened and they know it. They need to fess up and tell what really happened cuz dj not the only one responsible from the way I heard it. Mostly he was defending himself. Thats why she threw the phone out and thats why they ran. If they had stayed and put pressure on his wound shad might still be here.


Ummmm of Powhatan
Jan. 12, 2011, 08:43 PM

From Bell Rd to Laburnum
You can run but you still hurt him
It’s only a matter of time
Even your homies no it’s a crime
Watch your back
Someone else picking up the slack
Runnin they mouth
Its almost over and out


09 Graduate of Richmond
Oct. 22, 2010, 09:05 PM

I will spell this out for you people.

THERE IS A DRUG PROBLEM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

IT BEGINS AT THE JUNIOR HIGH.

There is no question, no debate. It exists. But no one seems to want to fix it. It’s one of the reasons I left Powhatan and never looked back, no one in this backwards county wants to fix anything, improve anything, or admit that anything needs to be fixed. Have fun while your kids drink and smoke marijuana in the school parking lot.


Me Too of Powhatan
Oct. 22, 2010, 03:22 PM

Yo Shay,

Please don’t tell me you’re a product of the Powhatan County School system. Your illiteracy is showing, please step away from the computer. I’m being for real….


Shay of Powhatan
Sep. 23, 2010, 04:34 PM

I dont like the way yall are speaking about my cousin(not christen) but anyone else yall dont know my uncle(tahliek father) so dont speak of him….and my mother didnt have a father figure in her life but she didnt go around killing people…Are you for real? Like really lets speak on the fact that yall are trying to make my cousin and friend RASHAD look like the bad people and there die and gone….and If yall are so grown what gives yall the right to say so much bad things about the people we love….I’m sick of yall feeling like yall can disrespect my family and friendS its not cool….So please keep YOUR comments to YOURSELF…

Thanks,
shay


HAPPY of Powhatan
Sep. 17, 2010, 11:42 PM

White boys are up 2 da nuthin


98PowGrad of Powhatan
Aug. 18, 2010, 10:31 AM

I have only one question….Does it bother anyone that current and former students of the Powhatan school system are on here saying “Yeah, there is a drug problem in the schools”?  While officials and administration personel say there is no such thing, wouldn’t the students be the best to listen to?  When I graduated in 1998, there was a drug problem then, so I’m sure it has only gotten worse.  I could care less about the remainder of the content of the comments on this story, because most are completely uninformed and from a 3rd person heresay perspective.  But really, if the students say there is a problem, maybe there really is a problem.


Me of Powhatan
Jun. 9, 2010, 12:10 PM

“...you rednecks out here would be ready to get a shot gun and go after someone.”

Are you serious?  When have you heard in Powhatan county of a “redneck” going out and shooting someone?  Thats right, you haven’t so why even say that?  It’s all about how you are raised, people need a father figure in there lives and lets face it; Both Tahliek and Rashad did not really have that.  They were both nice guys in school, and other things but both had this other person that would come out in front of there close friends.  I hate to say that cause I knew both of them but it’s the truth.  This could have been prevented if people would just stop and think.

As far as the hate towards the older generation; it’s not called for, you have no idea how old these people are on here.  Why would you listen to this stuff?  Every day I learn something new and whenever someone older than me is handing me wisdom, I listen.  It’s called respecting your elders.  I really wouldn’t take offense to anything anyone says on here, you don’t know who they are and it’s not really worth it at all.  Let’s all REALLY learn from this incident this time and not have the old saying, “bad things come in three’s” happen.  God bless everyone


concerned about dj of powhatan
Jun. 1, 2010, 08:07 AM

Dj I really believe the story I heard about how this whole thing went down.for the person who was there said it.
Dj I hope you get this message gets to you get a good lawyer and fight this thing you were fighting for your life. red yellow black or white we have the right to defend ourselves,so with that being said I hope you get self defence.GOOD LUCK DJ !


Christen of bell road
Jun. 1, 2010, 08:04 AM

No, I came on here to show love and support to my murdered friend. People tried to put out information they’ve heard, so I did the same. But because I was the only one to put my name out here, everyone found it easy to point me out and criticize me because they don’t like what I’m saying. And that’s fantastic, because no one on here has the right to do so, but if that makes everyone’s heart beat, then do what you do best.


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