Kylik Burnette, an 18-year-old African American male from Durham, North Carolina, tragically lost his life on August 19, 2019. The incident occurred in the 2900 block of Chapel Hill Road, where Kylik was found dead from a gunshot wound. The circumstances surrounding his death were not random; it was the result of an altercation between Kylik and another individual.
The Durham Police Department swiftly responded to the scene and launched an investigation into the murder.
Within hours, they arrested 36-year-old Michael Lester Morgan, also from Durham, in connection with Kylik's death. Morgan was apprehended on Pike Street around 4 a.m. the following day. The police confirmed that the altercation between Kylik and Morgan led to the fatal shooting.
The murder of Kylik Burnette occurred during a time when the city of Durham was grappling with a surge in gun violence. On the same night as Kylik's death, the Durham City Council was meeting to discuss measures to combat gun violence in the wake of another tragic incident—the murder of 9-year-old Zion Person, who was killed in a drive-by shooting the previous night. The council members expressed their determination to address the issue of gun violence and implement strategies to make the community safer.
Kylik's death and the subsequent arrest of Michael Lester Morgan highlighted the urgent need for effective measures to reduce gun violence in Durham. The community mourned the loss of a young life and called for justice for Kylik and other victims of gun violence. The investigation into Kylik's murder continued, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in bringing those responsible to justice.
