Ontorio Nymier Metts, a 23-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on March 20, 2022, in Hickory, North Carolina. The incident occurred at the Sunny Valley Apartments, located at 98 Third Ave. SE. Hickory Police responded to a report of gunshots and found Metts lying on the ground outside an apartment. He had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation revealed that Metts had been involved in a confrontation with Davon Lavell
Williams, a 25-year-old male from Claremont, North Carolina. Williams was initially charged with first-degree murder but later entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder in Catawba County Superior Court on May 20, 2024. He was sentenced to between 10 years and four months to 13 years and five months in prison, with credit for more than two years served in the Catawba County Detention Center.
In addition to Williams, Whitney Jana’e Gatewood, a 34-year-old female from Hickory, was also arrested in connection with the case. Gatewood was charged with felony accessory after the fact, as she assisted Williams in leaving the scene following the shooting. Both suspects were held in the Catawba County Detention Facility, with Williams being held without bond and Gatewood under a $150,000 bond.
The tragic death of Ontorio Nymier Metts has left a lasting impact on the community, with residents expressing their sorrow and frustration over the senseless violence. The Hickory Police Department continues to seek information from the public to ensure justice is served and to prevent future incidents of this nature.
