Court documents reveal that 19-year-old Xavier Neil Holton killed his mother and girlfriend before taking his own life on Monday afternoon in Cary, North Carolina.
The Cary Police Department identified the victims as 54-year-old Erica Alsye Holton, her son Xavier Neil Holton, and Xavier’s girlfriend, 19-year-old Aminah Michelle Guy.
All three were found dead from fatal gunshot wounds inside a residence on Smokemont Drive.
Two of three identified after allegedly robbing a 66-year-old woman in Johnston County
Details of the Shooting
Police were called to the Linville Ridge neighborhood at around 3 p.m. and remained on the scene for several hours, conducting a thorough investigation. By late Monday night, authorities confirmed the victims’ identities.
Cary police discovered a gun next to the body of 19-year-old Xavier Holton upstairs in the home he shared with his mother, Erica. According to warrants, Erica and Xavier’s girlfriend, Aminah, were found dead elsewhere in the home.
Shawn Certain, Erica’s husband, told authorities he called 911 after arriving home Monday afternoon to find his wife lying on her back and Aminah slumped over in a chair.
During the 911 call, Certain suggested that his stepson, Xavier, could be a suspect in the shooting deaths. He explained that he had been on the phone with Erica when he heard two “loud pops” before the call abruptly ended. Certain also informed detectives that Xavier had recently mentioned purchasing a gun.
According to WRAL News, police are aware of Xavier’s mental health struggles, which the family shared with investigators. However, it is unclear if those struggles played a role in the tragic events.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine what happened inside the home.
