Early Monday morning police found the bodies of a 16-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man shot dead in a parked car off Old N.C. Highway 86. The victims were identified as Zikera Wardlow, 16, of Hillsborough, and De’Anthony Letrelle Morgan, 20, of LaGrange.
Timeline of Events
Police responded to the scene around 6:45 a.m. on Monday, December 30, 2024. However, authorities believe the shooting occurred the night before.
“It’s a car been out there, and we just went to check, and it’s a dead body laying outside,” a 911 caller said. “Her car is still on, her doors open, and she’s laying there.”
The caller also reported hearing gunshots the previous night but assumed police were already present due to blue lights near the vehicle, a Dodge Charger.
The Victims
Zikera Wardlow, a former basketball player at Cedar Ridge High School, was attending Discovery Charter School in Durham at the time of her death. The school has created a GoFundMe campaign to assist her family.
De’Anthony Letrelle Morgan was a North Lenoir High School graduate who worked at Sanderson Farms in Kinston while pursuing college classes.
Family members revealed the two might have met at a high school football game, though the exact nature of their relationship remains unclear. According to reports, Morgan had picked Wardlow up Sunday night to take her to Bojangles, but they never returned.
Investigation Underway
The Hillsborough Police Department, with assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation, is actively investigating the case. Authorities are seeking information from the public to piece together the events leading up to the double shooting.
How to Help
Anyone with information is urged to contact Investigator Andrew Jones at 919-296-9562. Anonymous tips can be reported at 919-296-9555 or through the department’s online portal.
3 thoughts on “16-Year-Old Girl and 20-Year-Old Man Found Shot Dead in Vehicle in Hillsborough”
why hasn’t this made the news? this isnt normal, these are two people who didnt get to finish their life, they were going places, and someone took that away from them. why is this being kept secret; they deserve revenge. prayers to all of their family and friends. may they both rest in peace.
#LLZ #LLD
blue lights was at the car previously but their bodies wasnt found til the next day did i read that right?
You definitely did and it’s seems weird af that they just assumed it happend the night before & this hasn’t made the news as if they want to keep it low key like it’s just a simple double homicide, nah 2 souls with unlimited potential gone & they want to keep it secret.