Tina Louise Nicholson, a 53-year-old African American woman, tragically lost her life on May 13, 2021, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Tina was a long-time resident of Winston-Salem and had been employed by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for over 25 years. She was known for her dedication to her work and her loving nature towards her family and friends.
On the night of her death, Tina was at her home on Ridgeback Drive when a group of shooters opened fire on the residence. According to investigators, multiple reports of gunfire were received, and officers responded to the scene. Upon arrival, they found Tina inside the home with at least one gunshot wound. The investigation revealed that several people arrived at the home in a vehicle, got out, surrounded the house, and began shooting. It was reported that between 20 to 30 gunshots were fired during the incident.
Tina's husband, Robert Neely, recounted that he had gone to bed around 9:30 p.m. and was awakened by the sound of gunshots. He rolled off the bed onto the floor and, after the shooting stopped, went into the kitchen where he found Tina lying on the floor with multiple gunshot wounds. The scene was chaotic, with bullet holes in the kitchen door and evidence of a violent attack.
The investigation into Tina's death led to the arrest of Traquan Javon Cheeseboro, a 20-year-old man who was charged with second-degree murder. Cheeseboro was found with a gunshot wound and was abandoned at the ambulance dock of the pediatric emergency room at Baptist Hospital shortly after the incident. He claimed to have blacked out and did not remember anything other than waking up at the hospital. Investigators found drops of Cheeseboro's blood at the scene and a photograph of him on one of the cell phones recovered from the crime scene.
Cheeseboro faced a 180 to 228-month prison sentence for his involvement in the shooting. The investigation revealed that at least four different guns were fired during the incident, and it was suspected that Cheeseboro was shot by another shooter involved in the crime. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and it is not known if Tina was the intended target or if the house was targeted for another reason.
Tina's death marked the 11th homicide in Winston-Salem in 2021, highlighting the increasing violence in the area. Her family and friends were left devastated by the loss of a beloved mother, wife, and friend. The community mourned her passing and sought justice for the senseless act of violence that took her life.
