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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