Allura Pledger, a 3-year-old girl from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, tragically lost her life on December 2, 2021, in a triple homicide. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. near the intersection of Jordan Street and Perry Street in Elizabeth City's Third Ward. Allura, along with her mother, 39-year-old Takeyia De'Shay Berry, and 18-year-old Jaquan White, were fatally shot.
Three other individuals, aged 40, 29, and 20, were also injured in the shooting.
The Elizabeth City Police Department described the shooting as an isolated incident but did not release information about the motive or circumstances leading up to the event. Berry, who was not familiar with Elizabeth City, had agreed to give a ride to one of the injured individuals, which her family believes put her and Allura in a dangerous situation.
An arrest warrant was issued for 34-year-old Ricky Lewis Etheridge Jr., who was wanted in connection with the shooting. Etheridge faced three counts of murder and was considered armed and dangerous. Another individual, Terrence Seymore, was also charged with three counts of murder. Etheridge faced the death penalty if convicted.
The families of the victims, including Allura's father, Von Pledger, expressed their grief and called for justice. Pledger, who was in Wisconsin at the time of the shooting, was devastated by the loss of his daughter and her mother. He emphasized the impact of gun violence and the need for justice for his loved ones.
The community of Elizabeth City, along with organizations such as the Pasquotank NAACP and Mothers Against Gun Violence, rallied to support the families and called for an end to gun violence in the area.
