Elijah Wright, a 21-year-old Black male, was tragically killed on November 14, 2021, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The incident occurred at a residence on Pink Drive, where Wright was reportedly invited by two individuals, Jailen Lynch-McPeak, 23, and D'Erica Matthews, 20. According to court documents, Wright was beaten with a baseball bat and subsequently shot, resulting in his death.
The 911 call reporting the incident came in at 3:22 p.m., with the caller stating that a male had entered their house and was no longer breathing. Upon arrival, police found Wright's body in the master bathroom, with apparent gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma to the head.
During the investigation, Lynch-McPeak and Matthews admitted to inviting Wright into their home for a pre-planned assault. Both individuals were arrested and charged with first-degree murder. They are currently being held in the Cumberland County jail without bail. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, as it was not noted in the court documents.
This case marked Fayetteville's 40th homicide investigation of 2021. The Fayetteville Police Department's Homicide Unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Wright's death. Anyone with information regarding the case is encouraged to contact the authorities.
