Egypt Zapporah Carter, 23, Fatally Shot In Quiet Virginia Neighborhood
Egypt Zapporah Carter, 23, was shot and killed while in her car in a quiet Woodbridge, Virginia neighborhood on Feb. 2, 2024, around 2 a.m. A small mixed-breed dog was also in the car but was unharmed
Cater was from Burlington, North Carolina, and the slaying reverberated in her hometown as well. Since then, the murder has been the focus of an ongoing investigation, and authorities are still urging anyone with information to come forward.
In December 2024, Prince William County Police announced that the death of a woman earlier this year was part of a murder-for-hire plot. Investigators said two men she didn't know were paid to end her life.
The investigation revealed that Carter’s husband, 34-year-old Lionel Melvin Carter III, who was incarcerated at the time of the murder, orchestrated a plot to have his wife killed. The plan involved several men, including 26-year-old Grorethas Gresean McKinnon Jr., 30-year-old Denzel Scott Wade, and 27-year-old Drew Courtney Buchanan. These men were either directly involved in carrying out the murder, present during the crime, or helped in arranging the killing.
nvestigators uncovered that 34-year-old Lionel Melvin Carter III, incarcerated at the time, orchestrated a plot to have his wife, Egypt Zapporah Carter, killed. The scheme involved multiple individuals, including 26-year-old Grorethas Gresean McKinnon Jr., 30-year-old Denzel Scott Wade, and 27-year-old Drew Courtney Buchanan. These men either participated in the murder, were present at the scene, or facilitated the crime.
The murder took place on February 2 in Woodbridge, Virginia, when Egypt Carter was lured to the intersection of Bronson Court and Brickwood Drive under the false pretense of picking up prescription narcotics for her husband. Instead, she was ambushed and fatally shot while sitting in her car.
On Monday, a Grand Jury indicted Lionel Carter, McKinnon, Wade, and Buchanan on charges of aggravated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and use of a firearm in a felony. All four men, already incarcerated on unrelated charges, now face these serious accusations. Buchanan had been arrested earlier on October 15 and charged with second-degree murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and firearm-related offenses.
The case has left the community shaken. One neighbor, recalling the night of the murder, expressed sorrow and frustration: "It's awful, people do anything for money. It's devastating to take an innocent life like that. Women have to be careful, especially at night." She emphasized the importance of raising awareness about such crimes.
The investigation continues as the community mourns the loss of Egypt Carter.
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