Michael Lorenzo Joyner, a 34-year-old African American male from Columbia, South Carolina, was tragically shot to death on April 2, 2018, in Princeton, North Carolina. Joyner was found face down in the middle of the roadway on S. Elm Street, wearing body armor and suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The incident occurred following an argument, and witnesses reported hearing gunfire shortly after the altercation. Joyner had traveled to Princeton to check on his brother, who had been involved in an earlier dispute with three individuals. The purpose or intent of Joyner's visit to Princeton was not confirmed by the police.
The investigation into Joyner's death led to the arrest of 26-year-old Marcus Anthony Currie of Four Oaks, North Carolina. Currie was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting. He was apprehended at his home on Buck Dunn Road by members of the Johnston County Sheriff's Office, the State Bureau of Investigation , Princeton Police, and NC Probation and Parole. Currie had been released from prison seven months prior, after serving three years for possession of a firearm by a felon, speeding to elude arrest, habitual misdemeanor assault, and being a habitual felon. The motive for the shooting was not disclosed by the authorities.
Joyner's death left a significant impact on his family and community. He was survived by his fiancée, two daughters, and his mother. Funeral services for Joyner were held on April 12, 2018, in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The investigation into the shooting continued, with police identifying persons of interest and working to uncover the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
