Beloved doctor gunned down at NC park in the middle of the day, officials say
A beloved doctor and mom was gunned down at a North Carolina park in the middle of the afternoon, officials said.
Dr. Gwendolyn Lavonne Riddick, who worked as an OB/GYN, was found shot multiple times next to her Ford Mustang. The 40-year-old was rushed to UNC Health Rockingham hospital, where she died Sunday, July 30, according to her former employer and the Eden Police Department.
“This is a senseless and tragic loss of life; the family and work family are in our thoughts and prayers,” Police Chief Clint Simpson wrote in a news release. “Unfortunately, this incident occurred at Freedom Park in the parking lot, even more senseless, was to commit this act of violence in a location with numerous families and children nearby.”
Police said 35-year-old John Michael Powell has been charged in the doctor’s death. Officials in their news release didn’t list attorney information for the man, who is from Newport News, Virginia.
Powell and Riddick have a child together. Police believe the shooting was “a result of ongoing domestic issues” between the two parents, possibly due to child custody, according to WAVY and WGHP.
Powell is accused of firing shots just before 3 p.m. near a field at Freedom Park, which is home to a splash pad, mini golf and other family activities. The park is in Eden, a town near the Virginia border roughly 30 miles north of Greensboro.
Officers said they tracked down Powell as he left the park. Powell, who was charged with first-degree murder and “discharging a weapon into occupied property,” is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 8.
Meanwhile, Riddick is remembered as a “much-loved” 40-year-old physician who dreamed of going into medicine.
“I always knew that I wanted to be a doctor,” Riddick told the Greensboro News & Record last year. “You know when you ask little kids what they wanna be in life? That’s what I always said because I wanted to help people.”
Riddick reportedly graduated from East Carolina University in 2004 and attended medical school in Virginia. Since 2021, she worked for UNC Women’s Health at Eden, a UNC Health clinic. The health care system in an emailed statement to McClatchy News said it plans to provide support to its staff and patients after the “tragic loss.”
“Dr. Riddick was an extraordinary woman who made a difference in the lives of everyone she touched,” UNC Health Rockingham wrote in a Facebook post. “We will remember her and the legacy of resilience and compassion she leaves behind. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones.”
Police ask anyone with information about the case to call them at 336-623-9755 or 336-623-9240. People also can share anonymous tips through Rockingham County Crime Stoppers at 336-349-9683.
Gun violence in the US
Thousands of people die every year from firearm injuries in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Firearm injuries are a serious public health problem,” officials said. “In 2020, there were 45,222 firearm-related deaths in the United States — that’s about 124 people dying from a firearm-related injury each day.”
Firearm-related injuries were one of the top leading causes of death for people ages 1 to 44 in 2020, the CDC reported.
“More than half of firearm-related deaths were suicides and more than 4 out of every 10 were firearm homicides,” the CDC says.
The impact of gun violence, however, goes beyond the death toll, experts said.
“The effects of firearm violence extend beyond victims and their families,” according to the CDC. “Shooting incidents, including those in homes, schools, houses of worship, workplaces, shopping areas, on the street or at community events can affect the sense of safety and security of entire communities and impact everyday decisions.”
This story was originally published August 1, 2023 at 6:01 AM with the headline "Beloved doctor gunned down at NC park in the middle of the day, officials say."
