Kayla Kyle, a 32-year-old African American woman, tragically lost her life on July 24, 2020, in Lumberton, North Carolina. She was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Family Dollar store on East Fifth Street. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. when a man wearing a hoodie fired into multiple vehicles that were pulling out of parking spaces. Kayla Kyle, along with another victim, Kimberly Hunt, 41, was fatally shot during this incident. Kayla Kyle was an Air Force veteran and a loving mother of two children, ages 9 and 1. She was leaving the store after shopping with her children when the suspect attempted to steal her vehicle. As she tried to drive off to protect her children, the suspect fired shots, hitting her and causing her car to go out of control and crash into a pile of bricks.
The suspect, Xavier Joseph Kenneth Green, 25, was arrested on July 28, 2020, in Florence, South Carolina, after a tip alerted authorities to his location. Green was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Kayla Kyle and Kimberly Hunt. He waived extradition in South Carolina and was transported back to Lumberton, where he was formally charged. Green's first court appearance was scheduled for the following day, and he was held in Robeson County without bond. The investigation revealed that Green was dropped off in a gray car and opened fire on vehicles as they backed out of their parking spaces. After the shooting, he used Hunt's vehicle to leave the scene, which was later found by the police.
Kayla Kyle's family was devastated by her sudden and senseless death. Her mother, Felicia Kyle, described her as a loving mother, daughter, and sister who would do anything for anyone. Kayla had served 10 years in the Air Force and was working at Lumberton Children's Clinic at the time of her death. Her family had planned a fish fry on the day she was killed, and they were also preparing for her daughter's birthday party the following week. Kayla's mother now cares for her two children and struggles to understand why someone would take her daughter's life. The family continues to seek justice for Kayla and Kimberly Hunt, hoping that the legal proceedings will bring some closure to their grief.
