Carly Rae Baron, a 23-year-old woman from Wilmington, NC, tragically lost her life on Halloween night, October 31, 2020. Carly, who was a college student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and an aspiring model, was fatally shot around 11:50 p.m. near the 3600 block of Wrightsville Avenue. The incident occurred following a minor traffic crash that led to a verbal altercation between Jaquan Cortez Jackson, 21, and a group of people.
Carly, who was not involved in the accident, was shot during the argument.
Jaquan Cortez Jackson was charged with second-degree murder in connection to Carly's death. The Wilmington Police Department confirmed that the parties involved did not know each other prior to the incident. Jackson was apprehended after a brief chase and was held on a $750,000 bond. Carly was transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Carly Rae Baron was remembered as a loving daughter, adoring sister, and compassionate friend. Her family and friends gathered at Oleander Memorial Gardens to commemorate her life. Carly's death marked the 17th homicide in Wilmington in 2020. A GoFundMe page was created in her honor, raising funds to support her family.
In January 2023, Jaquan Cortez Jackson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison, with an additional 16 to 29 months for discharging a firearm. The plea agreement was reached before the jury selection began. Carly's tragic death and the subsequent legal proceedings have left a lasting impact on her community.
