Messiah Pitt, a 17-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on June 19, 2021, while leaving a graduation party in Garner, North Carolina. The incident occurred on Claymore Drive near McNair Glenn Court, shortly after midnight, as party-goers were walking back to their cars. According to the Garner Police Department, Messiah Pitt was not believed to be the intended target of the gunfire. The shots were fired in the midst of a large group of young people, and Pitt was one of the unfortunate victims caught in the crossfire.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Garner Police Department launched an extensive investigation to identify and apprehend the individuals responsible for the senseless killing of Messiah Pitt. The investigation led to the arrest of three young men, all from Durham, North Carolina. Courvoisier Massey, a 19-year-old male, and D'Cario Nelums, a 21-year-old male, were both charged with murder in connection to Pitt's death. Massey was apprehended in Maryland with the assistance of federal authorities, while Nelums was arrested in Durham with the help of the Wake County Sheriff's Office, Durham Police Department, and the Fuquay-Varina Police Department.
Additionally, Donnavan Darnell Holland-Terry, a 20-year-old male, was charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder. Holland-Terry was taken into custody and held at the Wake County Jail under a $100,000 bond. A fourth individual, Juwan Ra'Se Blue, a 19-year-old male, was also wanted on charges of being an accessory after the fact to murder. Blue was eventually located and arrested by Garner police.
The arrests of these individuals provided some measure of closure for Messiah Pitt's family, friends, and the community. However, many questions remained unanswered, and the investigation continued as authorities sought to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the tragic event. The Garner Police Department expressed hope that the arrests would bring some solace to those affected by the loss of Messiah Pitt and emphasized their commitment to seeking justice for the young victim.
