Nasir Leonard, a 20-year-old African American male from Wilmington, NC, tragically passed away on December 2, 2020. The Wilmington Police Department responded to a shots fired call at 708 Varsity Drive around 10 p.m. that night. By the time officers arrived, Nasir Leonard had already been pronounced dead at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center emergency room due to life-threatening injuries from a gunshot wound.
Initially, the police declared him the 20th homicide victim in Wilmington for the year 2020.
The investigation revealed that Nasir Leonard was sitting inside a parked car with two others when someone in a separate vehicle shot at them. In response, the man sitting behind Leonard fired back at the other vehicle in self-defense. Unfortunately, Leonard was accidentally shot by the man sitting behind him. The shooters in the other vehicle did not hit anyone in Leonard's car. The Wilmington Police Department ruled the shooting accidental, and the District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute the man who shot Leonard, as he was acting in self-defense and did not intend to hit him. However, the police are still seeking information on the suspects who initiated the shooting.
The tragic incident has left a lasting impact on Leonard's family and the Wilmington community. Public viewing for Nasir Leonard was held on December 12, 2020, at Davis Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service on December 13, 2020, at Calvary Memorial Cemetery. The Wilmington Police Department continues to ask for any information related to the suspects involved in the shooting.
