Nakayla JaHiya Bynes, a 16-year-old African American girl, tragically lost her life on December 24, 2017, in High Point, North Carolina. Nakayla was found shot in the head at a home on Garrison Street. The police were alerted to the incident after responding to a welfare check at the residence. The discovery of her body was preceded by a traffic accident in Greensboro, where the driver, Philip Coleman, informed officers that a passenger in his car had shot himself in the head during the drive
from High Point to Greensboro. The passenger, Kenneth Odom, was later identified as the suspect in Nakayla's death.
Kenneth Odom, who was the stepfather of one of the teenagers present at the home, became upset upon finding a group of teens gathered at his residence while he was away. Witnesses reported that Odom unexpectedly shot Nakayla in the head. Following the shooting, another teenager tackled Odom, allowing the others to escape. Odom was subsequently taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for his injuries.
Charges were filed against Kenneth Odom for the first-degree murder of Nakayla Bynes. The police obtained a warrant for his arrest after confirming his involvement in the shooting. Odom remained in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries but was expected to face charges upon his release.
Nakayla's death marked the 18th criminal homicide in High Point for the year 2017. The community mourned the loss of the young girl, and her family held funeral services on January 4, 2018, at St. John United Methodist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. The case highlighted the tragic consequences of gun violence and the impact it has on families and communities.
